
-%jr W* 





Class O l\2- g; 
Rnnk H 2 -^ 
Copyright N° 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



FOX TRAPPING. 



FOX TRAPPING 



A Book of Instruction Telling How 

to Trap, Snare, Poison and Shoot 

A Valuable Book for Trappers 



EDITED BY 
A. R. HARDING 

M 



Published by 

A. R. HARDING PUB. CO. 

COLUMBUS, OHIO 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

OC1 17 1906 

f] Copyright Entry 
|W, tf,ff6\. 
GK SS ^A XXc.No. 



K /dT/ <f/ 
I COPY B. 



Copyright, 1906 
By A. R. HARDING 



CONTENTS. 



Chapter Page 

I. General Information 17 

II. Baits and Scents 22 

III. Foxes and Odor 28 

IV. Chaff Method, Scent 33 

Y. Traps and Hints 37 

VI. All Round Land Set 42 

VII. Snow Set 46 

VIII. Trapping Red Fox 56 

IX. Red and Grey ' 72 

X. Wire and Twine Snare 78 

XI. Trap, Snare, Shooting and Poison. ... 88 

XII. My First Fox 97 

XIII. Tennessee Trapper's Method 103 

XIV. Many Good Methods 109 

XV. Fred and the Old Trapper 134 

XVI. Experienced Trapper's Tricks 136 

9 



XVII. Reynard Outwitted 149 

XVIII. Fox Shooting 153 

XIX. A Shrewd Fox 160 

XX. Still Hunting The Fox 163 

XXI. Fox Ranches 167 

XXII. Steel Traps 171 



10 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Fall Catch Frontispiece 

Page 

Almost Dry Enough to Turn .' . 19 

A ermont Hunter and Fox Skins 23 

Left for the Foxes to Devour 26 

A Good Runner 29 

Some Pet Foxes 34 

Silver and Black Fox Skins 38 

Live Silver Fox 41 

November Catch 43 

Awaiting the Trapper 47 

After the Chase 51 

Trap and Grapnel 53 

Caught in Maine 57 

Caught by a Missouri Trapper 63 

White Fox Skins 67 

A Rhode Island Scene 70 

Grey Fox 73 

Sacking Foxes 76 

• ii 



Wire or Twine Snare 79 

The Wire Loop 82 

Spring Pole Snare 84 

The Runway Snare Set 86 

Some Canadian Reds 90 

Caught in a No. 1 98 

Caught on His Own Farm 101 

Tennessee Trapper and Traps 106 

Thirty Silver Fox Skins worth $5000 112 

California Trapper Visiting Traps 116 

Pennsylvania Fox Trapper's Cabin 119 

New England Trapper's Catch 125 

Pack of New England Fox Hounds 133 

The Spring and SodSet 140 

Odorless and White as Snow 142 

Canadian Trapper and Fifteen Reds 145 

Adirondack Trapper 148 

Fox Traps with Drags 150 

Killed Before Breakfast 154 

Result of a Three Day's Hunt 157 

Always Hungry 161 

Black Fox Skin Valued at $1500 164 

Northren Fox Trapper's Dog Team 168 

Fox and Other Steel Traps 173 

12 




fa $ ^CLtdkviJ ( 



14 



INTRODUCTORY. 



If all the methods as given in this book had 
been studied oat by one man and he began trap- 
ping when Columbus discovered America, more 
than four hundred years ago, he would not be 
half completed. 

The methods given on the following pages are 
principally taken from articles published in the 
H-T-T, and as the writers give their own most 
successful methods, the trapper of little exper- 
ience with fox will find them of great value. 

Their articles are from all parts of America, 
so that trappers from any section will find a 
method or methods that can be used. The red fox 
is the one most sets describe, yet what is a good 
method for one species is apt to be for others. 

A. R. Harding. 



15 



FOX TRAPPING 



CHAPTER I. 

GENERAL INFORMATION. 

Foxes are found in all parts of America, but 
probably most numerous in the New England 
States and parts of Canada. The range of the 
red is from Virginia to Alaska; grey, Southern 
and Southwestern States; cross, Northern New 
Jersey to Manitoba ; black, Alaska, and the terri- 
tories several hundred miles to the South and 
East; swift, the prairies or Great Plains; white 
and blue, the Arctic Regions. 

While their fur has been one of value for many, 
many years, and they have been hunted, trapped 
and snared, yet their numbers are holding up re- 
markably well owing to their shrewdness. While 
many tricks are claimed for foxes that they never 
did, yet they are very cunning animals and also 
fleet on foot. 

In hilly and mountainous countries they travel 
much on the highest ground, and have regular 
"crossings," where "the experienced hunter or 
trapper often makes a kill or catch. 

17 



18 FOX TRAPPING. 

Foxes are carnivorous — living on flesh. Their 
principal food consists of rabbits, squirrels, mice, 
birds, bugs, eggs, etc. In some places where the 
food named is not plenty they visit creeks, lakes 
and ponds hunting crabs and fish. While they 
prefer fresh meat, they take stale and even de- 
cayed meats in severe weather. 

Most wild animals can be attracted a short 
distance by "scent" or "decoy," and the fox is 
one of them. Several good recipts for scent are 
given, but if there are no foxes in your neighbor- 
hood you can use all the "scents" and "decoys" 
you Avish on a hundred traps all season without 
making a catch. There is no "decoy" that will 
attract a fox a mile, but there are some that are 
good. That many of the writers made good 
catches is bourn out by the various photographs, 
and in some instances by personal visits by the 
author to the trapper. 

Foxes should not be trapped or shot until cold 
weather. In the states bordering on Canada 
about November 1st, while to the north they be- 
come prime sooner, while to the south they do not 
become. prime until later. 

The pelt should be cased, that is skinned with- 
out ripping, and drawn upon a board. Several 
tacks or small nails can be used to hold the skin 
in place. Leave on the board only two to five 
days, according to the weather. When removed, 
turn fur side out. In drying, keep in a cool shady 



20 FOX TRAPPING. 

place and free from smoke. The number caught 
Mud killed annually is not known, but of the 
various kinds — red, grey, cross, white, etc. — it is 
several hundred thousand. 

The following letters cover trapping and snar- 
ing pretty thoroughly, and all who read carefully 
and set their traps according to directions (if 
there are any foxes) will probably be successful. 
While the No. 2 Newhouse, which is a double 
spring, is known as the fox trap, the No. 1% 
single spring will hold the animal. We have 
known of several instances where fine "reds' 1 
were caught in a No. 1 trap. In those instances, 
however, the trap was fastened to a loose brush 
and every time the fox made a lunge the brush 
gave. In using the larger size, we advise using 
a brush or clog that will give with every pull or 
jump of the fox. Traps should be visited every 
other day, if possible, but never go only near 
enough to see that nothing has been disturbed. 

Owing to the wide distribution of the fox and 
the fact that they often have crossings near 
buildings so that their tracks are seen, etc., 
makes many inexperienced trappers think the 
number of animals larger than it really is. The 
fact that foxes travel during the coldest weather 
as well as any other time, gives the trapper an 
opportunity to show his skill when such animals 
as bear, coon, skunk, opossum and muskrat are 



GENERAL INFORMATION. 21 

"denned up." Fox skins at such times are at 
their best. 

As mentioned elsewhere, the greater per cent, 
of the methods published in this book are taken 
from the Hunter-Trader-Trapper, an illustrated 
monthly magazine, of Columbus, Ohio, devoted to 
Hunting, trapping and raw furs. New trapping- 
methods are constantly being published in that 
magazine, as experienced trappers from all parts 
of North America read and write for it. 



CHAPTER II. 

BAITS AND SCENTS. 

I prefer cat or muskrat for bait, says G. W. 
Asha. Cut it in pieces as large as an egg, place 
it in a perfectly clean can, zinc, screw cover, place 
it in the sun, allowing the bait to taint. This 
must be done in July or August, or can be done 
about two weeks before using. In regard to using 
scents, many don't believe scent is a help to trap- 
pers, but I'm oik 1 that believes in scent, because 
if there's a heavy rain storm it takes the scent 
from the bait. If a little scent is added, your 
bait is fresh again. Even heavy frosts have the 
same effect in this case. You have seen adver- 
tisements saying that scents will call an animal 
a mile. Don 1 ! take any stock in it, because any 
animal can't smell at the most only a few hun- 
dred feet away if the wind is right, not half as 
far if the wind is not right. 

If any of you are beginners trapping fox, scent 
is a great help, if you happen to tuck anything 
around the trap that have effect, if a little scent 
is added. A fox can smell only one thing at a 
time. If the scent is stronger than human scent, 

they will not smell the human scent. Too many 

/ 

22 



BAITS AND SCENTS. 



23 



accidents in this way have their effect because the 
fox is a forest animal in existence. I use for fall 
trapping the fox pure skunk glands and pure 




VERMONT J1UNTEK AND FOX SKINS. 

strained honey (not sugar fed honey) but clover 
or flower honey. Winter scent, pure matrix from 
the female fox taken in the running season dur- 
ing the heat, a little muskrat musk and pure 
strained honey. This scent attracts the male fox 
and is the strongest scent in existence. 



24 FOX TRAPPING. 

Here is a first class fox decoy which can be 
made very easily, write Irving Brown, of Ver- 
mont. Take one half pint of skunk oil and the 
musk glands of a muskrat and one scent bag of 
a skunk, and you have the celebrated scent of 
Schofield, one of the first water set fox trappers 
in the East. This should be made in spring, but 
it is all right made at any time. It is not the 
best scent, however, but it is a most excellent 
one. 

Here is the secret of the best and it is hard to 
prepare because you cannot get the female fox 
in the running season, which is February or 
March, in this climate Aery easil.y Take the 
matrix of a female fox taken in the running sea- 
son or, in other words, cut out the entire sexual 
organs and place them in a pint of alcohol, and 
the result will be the best scent ever made. Some 
do not use alcohol but salt the matrix. This is 
the scent you will buy the secret for $5.00, and 
you will be told that foxes are just crazy to get 
it. This is in a measure true, but a red fox will 
not step into a trap unless you use care in set- 
ting it, with any kind of scent. I don't care how 
frantic a fox is to get at the bait. They don't 
commit suicide if they know it. 

There are many other ways to prepare for both 
mink and fox, all of them possessing merit, but 
my aim is to give the best, not those which are 
no use to the trapper. The more simple, as a 



BAITS AND SCENTS. 26 

rule, are the best. Some trappers are opposed 
to the use of scent, but you will find that man 
far behind others. The capture of fur bearing 
animals has become a science, as mink and fox 
become more wary so does man become more 
skillful in overcoming their shyness. We hear 
lots of secrets that were learned of the Indians. 
No doubt they had some good ones too, but the 
white trapper in the same place will outdistance 
any Indian I have ever seen or heard of. My ex- 
perience among those people is that they are too 
lazy to use the care that a white man will use in 
either setting traps or stretching skins. 



I have had a fox get into my snowshoes tracks 
and follow a long way because it was better 
traveling, says M. H. McAllister. Now that 
shows he was not afraid of human scent. Now 
about iron. How often does a fox go through a 
wire fence, or go near an old sugar house where 
there are iron gates? That shows he is not afraid 
of scent of iron. 

Once there Avas an old trapper here, and the 
young men wanted him to show them how to set 
a fox trap, and he told them he would. So he got 
them out to show them how, and this is what he 
told them : "Remove all suspicion and lay a 
great temptation." Well, there it is. Now, in 
order to remove all suspicion you must remove 
all things that are not natural. A man's tracks 



26 FOX TRAPPING. 

and where he has been digging around with a 
spade or with his hands are not natural around 
a spring, are they? No. Well then, there is 
where the human scent question comes in. By 
instinct he is shown that man is his enemy, and 
when a man has pawed the bait over he uses his 




LEFT FOR THE FOXES TO DEVOUR, 

sense and knows that there is danger, for it is not 
natural. 

Now I have a question at hand. In one place 
he is not afraid and around the trap he is afraid. 
Now, how does he know when to be afraid or not? 
I think because when he sees a piece of bait in a 
new place it is not natural. Once last winter I 
knew where there was a dead horse and I used to 
go by it, and one day my brother was witli me 



BAITS AND SCENTS. 27 

aud of course he knew I could get a fox there, so 
to please him I set a trap, and not another fox 
came near. Well 1 smoked that trap, boiled it in 
hemlock and then smeared it with tallow, but the 
fox knew and never came within ten feet of it 
again, when they were coming every night before. 
When 1 went by there before I set my trap I left 
as much scent as after, and how could he tell 
when there was a foot of snow blown there by the 
wind after I set my trap. 

Now they don't appear to be afraid of human 
scent or iron in some places and around a trap 
they are, so now why should they know where to 
be shy? Well, because it may be in an unnatural 
place, unless it is instinct or good sharp sense. 
As for scent, I know that rotten eggs and onions 
are not natural, although the matrix of the fe- 
male fox in the running season is very good. Also 
such as skunk or muskrat scent or fish, as it 
smells rotten and makes a strong smell. 

One word to the novice fox trapper, and I will 
leave space for something more valuable. You 
must make things look natural around the spring 
and smell natural, and put before them the food 
that God has provided for them, and you will 
have success by placing the trap in the mud of 
the spring, and putting a sod on the pan of the 
trap that has not been handled by the hand of a 
human being. 



CHAPTER III. 

FOXES AND ODOR. 

Last winter I could not trap much because the 
river along which I do my trapping and the 
woods all around were full of lumbermen, and I 
was afraid my traps would be stolen. I did a 
little experimenting on foxes in their relations 
to the odor of man and iron, says Omer Carmerk, 
of Quebec. 

The results of my experiences confirmed my 
previous observation that foxes are not afraid of 
the odor of iron, neither of the odor of man, but 
mighty suspicious of a bait connected with both 
odors I made a trail about two miles long, scat- 
tered about it pieces of meat, chicken, rabbit, 
cheese, etc. I dragged a dead chicken, but I set 
no trap. Prior to my baiting the trail foxes were 
crossing it and following it without hesitation, 
but after I had put out the bait not a fox had 
ventured to cross that trail again. 

One day I saw where a fox had come near the 
trail, stopped, wheeled about and bounded off 
like a frightened deer. Another day, a fox tried 
to cross it at three different places but could not 
summon up enough courage, and at last, by mak- 

28 



FOXES AND ODOR. 



29 



ing a long detour lie crossed it at a place where 
there was no bait, not 20 yards from my cabin. 
One time a fox walked parallel to the trail sev- 
eral rods, then came nearer to it, stopped and 
turned back at full speed. The same foxes which 
were so afraid of my trail were going every night 
on the public road to eat horses. 

I will now relate one instance showing that the 
foxes smell traps. One day I chopped a chicken 




A GOOD RUNNER. 



on a log. 1 threw the big pieces in the middle of 
three traps I had set the week before and left 
man}' small pieces on the log. The day after the 
snow around and on the log was all tramped 
down by foxes. One fox walked towards the big 
piece of meat, and when about two inches from a 
trap he stopped and turned back. I have no 
doubt lie smelled the trap. When the traps arc 
iu the snow or wet ground the oxidation of iron 
produces a peculiar odor noticeable even to the 
human nostrils. 

One day I was going to look at a trap in a 
swamp road. My dog was trotting ahead of me, 



30 FOX TRAPPING. 

and when about ten feet from the trap he stopped 
and turned around. He detected the odor of the 
trap for he had not seen me set it, and he had 
good reasons to avoid it because when young he 
had often been pinched. 

Perhaps my experience does not harmonize 
with that of other trappers, but the ways of foxes 
as well as other animals are much influenced by 
their surroundings. J have observed that foxes 
frequenting the neighborhood of farms are less 
suspicious than those living in the deep woods. 



For years, says a Southern trapper, I have in- 
variably caught my fox, whether in a path, water 
or bait set; but can I swear my success is attribu- 
table to my extreme precaution? I always smoke 
traps to kill the smell of iron then handle them 
and every tiling around the setting with gloves, to 
erase human scent. 

I have found the summer and early fall months 
the best time to locate the haunts of the fox, as 
they are sure to use the same territory in the 
winter season. While on one of my recent inves- 
tigating tours, a few days after a rain, I observed 
some facts that will be interesting. 

I struck an old road riming through a farm, 
and readily noticed some fox tracks. Naturally 
I followed on and found they led under a wheat 
harvester, which had been recently left in the 
road and on under an iron gate, into the pasture 



FOXES AND ODOR. 31 

bey oiid. All know that a harvester is largely 
constructed of iron and steel. Now if the fox is 
so afraid of this metal, as is supposed, does it 
seem reasonable that he would walk under such 
a mass of iron, ov under an iron gate? 

In fox trapping the smoking and smearing pro- 
cess is advocated as well as the handling with 
gloves and concealing under the ground. In the 
light of my observations, are all these precautions 
absolutely necessary? On this same trip, in 
question, I noticed a fox track, and as usual fol- 
lowed it. To my surprise the animal went within 
a hair's breadth of a plow, passing right on, 
seemingly not either to care for red paint or iron 
construction. 

How is it, fox trappers? Does the iron and 
steel used in farm implements differ from that 
used in steel traps, so that the latter must be 
handled with such care as is advocated by many 
of the trapper's profession? Or is it the covering 
of the trap with earth that arouses suspicion? 

A red or grey fox will cross through or under 
a wire fence over the public highway at night, 
although the roads are continually traversed by 
the iron bound shoes of the horse. Even the tracks 
of man are visible here yet we, when trapping, 
brush out our tracks with great care. 

I have known a fox to follow where a plow has 
been draped and have seen his tracks in the iron 



32 FOX TRAPPING. 

marked groove, just made by the locked wheel of 
a wagon. 

Considering these facts, does it seem possible 
that the fox has so great an antipathy to iron and 
to the human scent as supposed? (We believe 
that the conditions under which these are found 
have much to do with the foxes shrewdness. A 
wagon wheel or binder never caught a fox, but 
the scent coining from a trap — well that is differ- 
ent. Coming down to this would appear that the 
fox has some reasoning power or intellect. — 
Editor. ) 



CHAPTER IV. 

CHAFF METHOD, SCENT. 

Get some chaff, a bushel will do, and put it out 
in some good place where there are foxes, writes 
a Maine trapper, J. F. Miller. Put some small 
pieces of meat in the chaff, (skunk, muskrat or 
cat is good), and take a shingle and pound the 
bed down solid all over. Don't have any soft 
place in the bed, and don't handle any of the 
chaff with bare hands, or the bait either. Leave 
it in this shape until you go on, then get your 
trap ready to set, but you want your trap clean 
and free from rust, and this is a good way to do. 
Scrape with an old knife, then use a clean pan 
and boil in clean water for twenty minutes, and 
no fox can smell your trap. Set in edge of bed 
and cover in good shape, and make it look as 
natural as possible, and don't walk all around in 
snoAv, stand in one place and walk in same tracks 
when yon visit this place, and don't go only every 
other day. 

Now I will tell you of a good way to make a 
scent that will draw a fox to a trap. It will draw 
a fox a number of yards, but it will not draw 
them one mile or one half mile, and I doubt if it 

33 



CHAFF METHOD, SCENT. 36 

will one fourth mile, or any other scent that was 
ever made or ever will be. That is my idea of 
scents, but I know that they are good to draw 
animals to traps; they are like methods, some are 
better than others. This is not the best, but it is 
good. Take a cat, skunk and muskrat in April, 
dress them and chop them up fine and put them 
all in a glass jar. Put cover on and set them 
where it is warm so they will rot in good shape, 
and in the fall add a little fish oil and you will 
have something that will smell right loud. 

Most anything that will smell strong is good 
scent, but no matter how good your bait and 
scent is, you must have the trap so the fox can't 
smell it, and know how and where to set it. Don't 
forget to set your trap where there are foxes. This 
is one thing to keep in mind, always set where 
you see signs. Some think they can set a trap any 
old way and place, and ought to make a catch, 
and then get discouraged. If you don't get your 
game the first night try again and keep right on 
trying; it is courage and grit that makes a suc- 
cessful trapper. Look for signs whenever you are 
in the woods, and study them and the animals 
that you want to catch. T always look up places 
in summer, and when the time comes to set traps 
I know just where every trap is going and how 
many I want. 

I tried a great many times to catch a fox before 
I was successful. I remember one time I got an 



36 FOX TRAPPING. 

old horse for fox bait in winter, and put him in 
a good place. We had a snow storm a few days 
afterwards, and boylike I started with my rabbit 
dog and gun to look for rabbits and to take a look 
at my old horse to see if the foxes had begun to 
feed on him, and when I got to him he was a sight 
to behold. The snow was all trodden down solid 
around him where they had circled and stood 
around and fed on him. That was too much for 
me. It took the rabbit fever all out of me for 
that day, and I started for home to get six No. 
2 1 /) Newhouse traps to set around the horse, and 
I could not get home quick enough to suit me. 

I had always wanted to catch a fox so bad and 
I thought the time had come. I set them as well 
as I could and covered them up good, as I 
thought, and went home. It seemed to me that 
morning would never come. T knew I was going 
to have a fox, so I was up early and started after 
it. When I got almost to the bait I saw new 
tracks going towards the horse and that made 
my heart beat a little faster, as I was sure I had 
one, but they had gone as near as three feet and 
that was as near as they would go. They knew 
the traps were there as well as I did, and they 
rever went there as long as my traps were set. 



CHAPTER V. 

TRAPS AND HINTS. 

My idea is that manufacturers make traps too 
strong for the animal it is made for, says (J. F. 
Keith. Now the No. 2 is too strong for fox, and 
also it is very hard to conceal from view. 

Of course if you get a fox in a No. 2 you are 
more sure than if he is caught in a No. 1% or 
smaller. I use the No. 1% Newhouse for fox and 
I find it the best fox trap made. I have also used 
the Jump and the Blake & Lamb, but I do not 
like them as well. Some trappers think that the 
I > lake & Lamb are the best mink traps made. I 
beg leave to differ with them, for the simple rea- 
son that I have lost many a mink by the trap 
cutting off the leg and the mink escaping, which 
never happens with the Newhouse. 

The Blake & Lamb trap are, without doubt, the 
best trap to conceal, but when it comes to be the 
best trap it is not in it with the Newhouse. I 
think if trappers would use long chains when us- 
ing clogs, they would have better luck in trapping 
the fox. The kind of traps I use are the No. iy 2 
Newhouse for fox, with four foot chains. When 
I first began to trap fox I used cheap traps, and 

87 




SILVER AND BLACK FOX SKINS. 



TRAPS AND HINTS. 39 

many a fox have I lost by not knowing enough to 
use 1 good traps. By all means, trappers, buy good 
traps in the first place and you will not be sorry 

Now let me first give you a few pointers on fox 
trapping. First, forget everything you have 
bought from humbugs and use common sense; 
second, studv the habits of the fox and you will 
have better success. Third, be sure and have your 
traps in proper shape so the fox can't smell the 
iron; fourth, be careful in making a set, use the 
wooden paddle or gloved hand in placing dirt 
over trap; fifth, be sure that your bait is not 
scented with human scent, and use cat, skunk, or 
muskrat scents. 

I have bought scent for many years, but the 
best scent I can find is skunk essence or oil of 
anise. Skunk essence and honey equal parts, but 
never use skunk essence in early winter, as it will 
be a failure. I have trapped fox for many years 
and I am very successful and lucky, and every 
fall I believe I learn something. 

Another thing, never get discouraged, for it is 
grit that counts. When a fox turns the trap over 
reset it and place another trap in the bed, and 
you are liable to catch him the first night, but if 
this fails, turn trap bottom side up and he will 
get fooled, sometimes, not always, for fox trap- 
ping is 1111 certain. 



4(j FOX TRAPPING. 

Iii the first place, when an animal gets into a 
trap he tears around for a while, saysjGr. F. Moon, 
of Dakota, and if the trap be lightly clogged so 
lie can move around, the trapper most generally 
finds his game when he visits the traps. On the 
other hand, let the trap get fastened solid and 
I he animal sels his reasoning powers to work ; he 
finds out that he can chew from the under side 
of I he jaws of the trap, and that too without giv- 
ing himself any pain, and finds that he can easily 
slip I he I rap off from the stump of his leg. 

Man has been known to do (he same thing, 
when by accident he has been caught by the leg 
by a free or a large rock falling on him. Surely 
the animal showed as much reason as the man. 
I once Lad a large fox trap set in a hollow log. 
The log was about the size of a barrel. A she fox 
got info the trap, and as I he trap was a good bit 
out of the way I did not visit it for several days. 
When 1 did visit the trap the snow was all 
(ramped down by foxes around the log and on 
I he inside of the log by the fox in the trap. There 
were the rema ins of severa I rabbits and one whole 
rabbit fresh killed, one fresh killed quail and 
feathers enough to have been on a couple more 
quail. Now the question arises, "Did the other 
foxes let instinct guide them lo feed the unfor- 
tunate fox in the trap? Or did they use their 
power of reason?" I leave that for others to 
answer. 



OIIAPTEK VI. 

ALL ROUND TAXI) SET. 

i have made a close study of the red fox for 
years and the all round land set is one of my best 
and latest sets, says J. II. Shufelt, of Canada. 
First used last year and took 15 red foxes, and 
when properly and carefully set, is the most kill- 
ing method I ever used. 

How to make the scent — This scent should be 
made in August, of house 1 cat, muskrat or skunk, 
chopped line ami put in a two quart glass jar and 
sealed until it forms a liquid, and should fill the 
jar two-thirds full. Two weeks before using put 
in the musk of one skunk, one oz. oil of amber, 
and enough skunk oil to nearly fill the jar; get a 
new paint brush, a small one will do, and see that 
it is clean, to use scent with, and it should be 
kept in the jar. 

How to fix trap — I prefer a waxed trap. I find 
a smoked trap will rust on the under side after 
setting about a week. It's not so with a waxed 
trap. If properly waxed, water will not rust 
them. Take a large kettle of hot water and keep 
it boiling hot. Melt your beeswax in a cup or dish 
and pour on the water ; now take your traps, six 

42 



44 FOX TRAPPING. 

at a time, and dip them, and the wax will adhere 
to them; just leave the traps in the water long 
enough to warm them a little, when the wax will 
spread evenly over them; drain over kettle and 
hang up to dry a week before using. One half 
pound of wax is sufficient for three dozen traps 
and chains and will last one trapping season. 

How to set the trap — I use rubber boots and 
set in the morning when the dew is on the grass 
or on a wet day. The set should be made near 
the foxes' runways or on high ground ; dig out a 
place the size of your trap, take something with 
you to put the trap and dirt on — for this purpose 
I use a piece of oil cloth, two feet square — fill all 
around outside of your trap with fine dirt, and 
put a large leaf over your trap. I use a large 
leaf from a first growth basswood. As soon as 
they fall from the tree I gather them and lay 
them ilat together in the mud until I want them 
to use. Why I prefer this particular kind of leaf 
is, they grow so large that one leaf covers the 
(rap. After the leaf is over your trap cover with 
line dirt or something that must be in keeping 
with the surroundings. Now stand in one place 
and take your brush from the jar and paint a 
circle about two feet in diameter, the width of 
your brush on the grass all around your trap. 
This should be repeated once or twice a week, es- 
pecially after a heavy rain storm. Nothing can 



ALL ROUND LAND SETS. 45 

steal your bait, John Sneak'um cannot locate 
your trap. 

When visiting your traps carry an extra trap 
along, and when you make a catch set a clean 
trap by exchanging traps; always clean your trap 
after making a catch before setting again. Now 
boys, start in right, by using a good trap with a 
large pan, one that can be easily concealed. Don't 
try to catch a fox with a weak trap, for you will 
only be disappointed and at the same time be 
educating another fox, and he will make the rest 
shy, for they often travel in pairs. When making 
your sets, don't disturb anything around the 
place nor use a bush drag where there hasn't been 
one, for the fox is quick to notice. Use a grapple 
that can be concealed under your trap. Just try 
and see how slick a set you can make and try 
and learn the habits of the animal you are trying 
to catch, for that is the key to success. 



CHAPTEK VII. 

SNOW SETS. 

Much lias been said pro and con relative to trap- 
ping that most wary of our wild animals, the red 
fox. A few incidents pertaining thereto that 
have come under my observation may be worthy 
of mention, says J. A. Newton, of Michigan. 

There are practically three conditions under 
which trapping the fox may be done. First, by 
setting in beds, so called, of dry chaff or ashes 
before snow falls; secondly, in snow during the 
coldest weather, and lastly spring water setting 
as some writers have described. 

I shall confine myself to the two first men- 
tioned conditions. In the first instance a spread 
of chaff or ashes covering three or four feet of 
space is made where foxes are known to travel. 
As a rule the most acceptable bait is lard scraps, 
suet, smoked meat rinds, etc. These are scat- 
tered in small bits in the bed, and as a lure noth- 
ing can be more efficacious than a few drops 
sprinkled in the bed composed of the female fox 
gland taken in the rutting season that has been 
dissolved in alcohol. It must be kept tightly 
corked. The same taken from the female dog at 
this period is about as potent. 

46 



SNOW SETS. 



47 



The traps must first be thoroughly smoked 
with some resinous twigs or corn cob, or be 
boiled in ashes to eradicate the scent of iron, rust, 
and of other game that has been caught. After 
this do not handle traps or bait except with 
cloves. 




AWAITING THE TRAPPER. 



All old trappers in my section bait a fox a few 
nights before placing the trap, as the more visits 
Reynard makes to the bed, and devouring bait 
without having his suspicions aroused, the more 
reckless does he become and the easier is he taken 
when at last the trap is placed. 

Que old trapper, who is very successful, does 
not set his traps until some night when the first 
snowfall is at hand. The new white mantle cov- 
ers the bed and all human sign made in setting 



is FOX TRAPPING. 

the trap. The clog should have been previously 
placed some days before so that the fox will be- 
come accustomed to the sight of it. The fox Ims 
Qot forgotten the exact location of the bed with 
its tid bits and conies to it with unerring pre- 
cision even when covered by snow, and unless he 
by good luck kicks the trap over and springs il 
he now comes to grief. 

<>M man Titus says: "Having nailed the game 
don't kill on the spot but drag Mini off a ways. 
Then don't leave the carcass lying round con 

spicuous or il. will sen re (lie res! out of the neigh- 
borhood." 

My firs! insight into the manner of snow trap- 
ping I gained from a man named Williams. Sev- 
eral of liis sheep concluded to purl, company with 
this cold unappreciative world, and their owner 
determined to make them slill serve a purpose. 
Hauling them off in us ninny directions as there 
were of the (\( k ;u], lie left (hem until deep snow 

and severe weather came, cutting off much of Hie 
natural prey of the fox which reduced him to 
seeking carrion. After (heir inroads on the bait 
lind become well established Williams placed a 
trap al each of the remains, covering a little snow 
over them and stapling to pieces of fence rails 
previously placed. 

"Now," said Williams, "the only thing to do is 
lo keep away from here two or three days until a 
little more snow fulls lo cover our sign, or is 



SNOW SETS. 49 

drilled a Little by the nni ii< 1."" He used do scent 
of any kind, saying that "starvation is the best 
Lure in the world." "All 1 <l<> is to smoke the traps 
and not handle barehanded," be added. 

After two or three days of snow flurrying wea- 
ther we visited the traps and noted that one was 
missing. We could see a dim trail where it bad 
been dragged away. We followed and round the 
fox in a drift. He was poor and had frozen hard. 
Five were taken at the sheep bait inside of two 
weeks, after which (here came a thaw stopping 
further snow trapping. 

One old trapper lolls <>r a fox that came near 
outwitting hini, being nol only the most cunning 
imi also possessing a degree of meanness almosl 
satanic. "1 baited him in a bed of chaff several 
nights," said he, "and then set my trap. The trap 
could not have contained scent, but the old chap 
appeared to know i< was there ; he carefully nosed 
out and devoured oven scrap of bait, and (hen as 
deftly dug the trap out, turned it over and sprung 
if and led a soiling evidence of Ins scorn and con- 
tempi for me upon it. Thai T was mad you 
needifl doubl Tor a minute. I tried setting three 

and four traps, hoping lieM make a niiseue ami 
i'el into some one of them, Iml no, lie was loo 

smart, he sprung them all each nighl and insulted 
me besides. All a( once the thoughl shank me 
like a brick, I'll set the trap bottom side up. This 
I did, removing all Iho traps but one. "The cal 



50 FOX TRAPPING. 

came back" and as before turned the trap, bring- 
ing it right side up. I had set it full catch so 
that it would spring rather hard. He slipped a 
cog in not taking into account that the trap didn't 
spring when he turned it; when bestowing his 
disdain a too close contact brought a sharp click 
and he was fast. I never saw so sneaking and 
beat out an animal in my life. He Avould like to 
have had the ground open up and swallow him if 
it could." 

An acquaintance of mine who is a settler in 
Northern Michigan heard a great squealing and 
commotion among his hogs one night late in No- 
vember, and bounced out just in time to see a 
large bear drop one of his shoats as it passed 
through the bars. The porker was stone dead, 
being bitten through the nape of the neck. The 
settler, Avhose name is Clark, drew the pig into 
the woods and left it between two fallen trees. 
With his axe he chopped a niche large enough to 
contain a trap, when set, from each of the logs; 
a piece of moss was carefully fitted over each 
cavity and all of the chips were removed. 

Foxes there are very numerous, and Clark soon 
noticed that the bait was being sampled; he knew 
(he fox nature in that they have a habit of walk- 
ing logs or on the highest points when investigat- 
ing an attraction. When the tracks to and from 
and circling the bait became frequent Clark 
placed a trap on each log, covering them neatly 



52 FOX TRAPPING. 

with patches of moss; the chain was fastened to 
clogs concealed under the logs, and the chains 
were hidden with strips of moss. Upon his first 
visit to the traps, two days later, the trapper 
found a fox in each trap, and several more were 
taken before crows and other scavengers had pol- 
ished the bones of the bait. 

On the quiet, boys, I will say that it requires 
so much preparation, caution and patience to 
successfully trap the red fox that I have more 
frequently resorted to the hound and shotgun ; by 
this means 1 have often taken the jacket of a 
cunning old dog fox, after running him over the 
hills an hour or tAvo, that it would have taken 
much time and patience to trap. After one gets 
the runways learned, and if he possesses a good 
gun that loads properly, and is a- tolerably fair 
shot at running game, the means is much quick- 
er. It is like digging out a nest of skunks as 
against the slow process of trapping one at a 
time. 



T had a little experience with a sly old female 
fox last winter, says Claude Roora, of Ohio. T 
had noticed on early snows where this old fox 
had two holes under an old rail fence Avhere she 
would pass through every night, and also a stone 
beside a sheep path Avhere she would stop. I 
picked out those three places to set traps for her 
under the next snow. 



SNOW SETS. 



53 



One morning 1 thought it looked as though it 
was fixing for a snow. I got three No. 2 Victor 
traps and told my wife I was going to catch that 
old fox that night if it snowed. I went to the 
three places and was very careful not to tear 
tilings up any more than just to dig places the 
size of the traps. I had grapnells fastened to 



f >vf 


rt 


"-*&<** 




y 
\ 




I 


! 


i 






i 






3 








\> 





TRAP AND GRAPNEL. 



chains and dug holes deep enough to bury them, 
so that when the traps were set on top of them 
it would be just a little below level of the surface 
of the ground, and covered all up with dead 
grapevine leaves. About the time I got the last 
trap set it commenced snowing and quit snowing 
before dark. 

Next morning I went early to get my fox be- 
fore the hound men got out, thinking sure I 



54 FOX TRAPPING. 

would have her. When I got within one hundred 
yards of set No. 1 I saw her tracks leading 
straight to it. She went up within five or six 
feet of the trap, turned short off to the right and 
went down to set No. 2, went up within five or 
six inches of trap where she turned short off to 
the right again, made a few jumps down the hill, 
jumped over top of fence, circle back up the hill 
to sheep path, followed it out to set No. 3. She 
went up to this trap, raked every bit of snow and 
leaves off of trap and left trap bare and in plain 
sight, not even springing trap. I covered trap 
up again thinking I might fool some other fox, 
but in about half an hour the hounds came along 
on her track and one of them set his foot in the 
trap and his owner let him loose and threw the 
trap away. 

The hounds followed the fox up over the hill, 
routed it and ran it about an hour and holed it 
under a big rock, and the men Avent off and left it. 
Now the hounds had been in the habit of holing 
this fox under the same rock, and the most of us 
know that when a pack of hounds hole a fox they 
generally tear things up some. In other words, 
they leave some signs. I set the traps as nice as 
I knew how, and when I went back the next morn- 
ing traps were turned upsidedown and fox gone. 

So I concluded I would follow the track and 
see if I couldn't find her asleep and shoot her, but 
had not gone far when I found the snow had 



SNOW SETS. 55 

drifted so I could not follow her. I came back 
home discouraged. Next morning I thought I 
would go and see if she had been back on the hill. 
When I got to set No. 2 I saw where she had come 
up from the opposite side from what she had been 
in the habit of doing and stuck her right foot 
square in the trap. She went about one hundred 
yards where she got tangled in some grapevines 
and was waiting for me. 

Now I think there are instances where the 
scent of steel or human scent will scare animals 
awav from vour sets, and when you mix them 
both together they are a sure warning of danger 
with all shy animals. Now if this fox did not 
locate that trap at set No. 3 Avith her nose I would 
like to know how she did it, for I removed every 
bit of dirt I took out to make set and left all level 
and two and a half inches of snow ought to make 
things look as natural as any fox could expect to 
find a set, and at a rock where she had been in 
the habit of seeing things torn up by the dogs 
when she came out on previous occasions, and 
traps hidden out of sight, her nose surely told 
her where they were set. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

TRAPPING RED FOX. 

In the many years that he has been striving for 
his glossy pelt, man has evolved numerous clever 
schemes for outwitting the fox, but in the mean- 
time reynard has not been an idle observer regard- 
ing the ways of the human enemy, says J. L. 
Woodbury, of Maine. He lacks the advantage of 
books or tradition for handing down his store of 
accumulated knowledge, but in some mysterious 
way it is transmitted from generation to genera- 
tion, nevertheless. So it is that the fox of the 
older and more thickly settled sections is a very 
different animal from the fox — even though it be 
of the same variety or species — inhabiting a part 
of the country where its kind has not been so 
persistently hunted. Tricks that prove effective 
with the latter are utterly lost on his better- 
schooled brother. Hence the simple methods ad- 
vanced by some trappers are a bit amusing to the 
trappers here in the East, where the subject of 
this sketch reaches the acme of wisdom, and is, we 
believe, the peer in shrewdness and cunning of 
any animal in the world. However, we do not 
wish to be understood as ridiculing anybody's 

56 



58 POX TRAPPING. 

methods. We read the crudest of them with in- 
terest, realizing that they are all right in the 
region whence thev came. 

I would advise the amateur fox trapper to be- 
gin with the water set if practicable. Nearly any 
one of the many different forms are good enough, 
with such modilications as will be found neces- 
sary to adapt it to varying conditions of different 
sets. As one should not begin operations until 
freezing weather, spring water should be selected 
for the trap. A good-sized spring works best, but 
if this is not to be had, utilize some of the little 
springs to be found in plenty near the sources of 
brooks. One with a dark bottom is to be pre- 
ferred, as then there will be no sand to clog the 
trap, which may be pressed down into the mud 
until it is all hidden but the pan. This should be 
about an inch under the water, and covered with 
a lump of moss. 

The position of Ira]) with relation to bait has 
so often been explained 1 need not dwell upon it 
here. If the spring be a large one it is easy to 
place (he bail so that it will be protected by water 
on all sides save (he one desired, but if a smaller 
pool be employed the side opposite the trap 
should be barricaded with stamps or brush; 
which work, by the way, had better be done some 
time during the previous summer. And rather 
than leave too narrow an approach to the bait 
if is better to set two or even more traps, for rev- 



TRMTINCJ RUD FOX. 59 

nard's suspicions are quickly aroused by any- 
thing resembling an iuclosure. 

As to the matter of bait, it may be said in gen- 
eral that foxes like about all kinds of meat. Yet 
the task of selecting a killing bait is not always 
as easy as might be expected from this, as indivi- 
duals seem to have their particular preferences, 
while the morsel that would be eagerly sought by 
the same fox at one season will have no attraction 
for him at another. If you find "signs" in the 
vicinity of your sets, yet they remain unmolested, 
experiment with different kinds of baits, as the 
angler tries a variety of flies at every likely-look- 
ing pool. It is certain that mice, rabbits and 
grouse are among the best baits. 

For the "scent" part, some trappers claim to do 
well without them, but a good scent is unques- 
tionably a great help. Many of those for which 
receipts are given I know to be effective. Hut the 
most tempting bait and the strongest lure will 
jointly prove unavailing if one's set be unskill- 
fully made, and carelessness be practiced in go- 
ing to and from trap. 

Water, of course, leaves no scent where it is 
possible to reach the set by boat or wading, but 
where this is impracticable arrange to go to trap 
but rarely, if it remain undisturbed. The heighl 
of springs vary but little with wet or dry weather, 
and this fact should be taken full advantage of by 
the fox-trapper. Carefully select a trap that will 



60 FOX TRAPPING. 

not spring of itself. See that the trigger is pushed 
well into the notch, pick out a good, close-fibred 
piece of moss for pan, not large enough to clog 
the jaws, and stick a few small twigs around it to 
hold it in place. Push the chain well down into 
the mud, have the bait exactly in the right place, 
and in fact use every care to have things fixed so 
that they will not be disarranged by trivial 
causes. Then in visiting, go no nearer than is 
necessary to see that bait or trap have not been 
disturbed. 

Skunks will often prove a great bother, as they 
take all kinds of bait and kick up no end of a 
"bobbery" when caught. The fact that their pelts 
pay the bill in part is but poor consolation, when 
one has just got a particularly shy old red coat 
about worked up to the "biting" point. 

Sometimes one will run upon natural condi- 
tions particularly favorable for a set — a rock, 
islet or piece of drift in mid-channel, or an old 
log spanning the stream. Experienced trappers 
arc quick to note all such places as these, as well 
as points where, with a very little human handi- 
work, traps may be placed to advantage. 

It is best to make all essential preparations as 
long before setting as possible, though bearing in 
mind that the streams are usuallv much higher 
in the trapping season than during the summer. 
Also begin putting out baits some time before set- 
ting traps. No animal exercises afterward the 



TRAPPING RED FOX. 61 

same degree of caution as on the first two or three 
visits to a spot, and even so shy a creature as the 
fox, if he become accustomed to picking up a few 
choice bits at a place, Avill soon neglect much of 
his usual precaution in approaching it, and 
though lie take alarm and shun it for a time will 
ere long get up sufficient confidence to renew his 
visits. 

If you find where there is a burrow with a 
family of young foxes, watch them all you can 
during your leisure moments. Learn where they 
get their food, where they cross the streams, and 
their general lines of travel. True, the family 
may be broken up and driven to sections miles 
away before time for trapping, but nevertheless a 
few traps should be placed in the old beats, as if 
one of this family should ever return to the vicin- 
ity he will be certain to revisit his former haunts 

Many trappers, and especially young trappers, 
expect to %^\ a fox the first night, and, as it would 
seem, think to make their set so that not the 
slightest taint of man or iron lingers about the 
spot after they leave it. They boil their traps in 
this or that, or smear them with some odorous 
substance (the very thing perhaps to draw the 
game's attention to them) ; they handle them 
gingerly with gloves (which are often as strongly 
imbued with man smell as their naked hands) ; 
strap hides, pieces of board or snow shoes to their 
feet when setting or visiting, and in fact go 



62 #0X TRAPPING. 

through a rigmarole that would require about 
half a day to set a single trap. Then they think 
that if the shyest old fox imaginable should come 
along that night he would walk into their snare 
as confidently as a cow into a stall, or a man into 
his own house. Without reflecting upon the meth- 
ods of any one, we must say that we consider 
many of these expedients unnecessary, unless 
when dealing with an unusually shrewd cus- 
tomer. 

For my own part we make but little reckoning 
on a trap for the first two or three days, espec- 
ially oue with bait. Sometimes, of course, a 
storm helps us out, or we may nab a youngster 
who is green at the game ; but this is an exception, 
not the rule. We take all needful precautions 
in respect to disturbance and scent, but our chief 
aim is to secrete and cover our trap well ; to cover 
it so that no smell or iron can possibly reach the 
surface, and so that it will remain covered for 
weeks if necessary, and yet be ready for business, 
let the weather be what it will — snow or rain, 
heat or cold. Herein lies the essence of the art; 
to fix your trap so that it will not soon require 
your attention, then nature will speedily dispose 
of whatever scent you may have left about it. We 
are speaking now chiefly of land sets. 

In looking up a place for a set, select one if 
possible where some natural or artificial provi- 
sion will admit of approach without leaving much 



64 FOX TRAPPING. 

scent — a hard-beaten path, a double stone wall. 
a line of Jedges, or a combination of some such 
conditions, which should be invariably followed 
in going to and from trap. 

AYhen you have decided upon the place for a 
trap, make all possible preparations at a dis- 
tance; then go to the spot and do your work as 
quickly and cleanly as you can. If the ground is 
soft, use a strip of board to stand on. If you 
use gloves, have some especially for the purpose, 
and never leave them lying about your dog's 
quarters or the house. It will do no hurt to smear 
them lightly with whatever vou are using for 
scent. 

See that the trap rests evenly and firmly, so 
that if any part of it be stepped on it will not tip 
and pull apart the covering, or grate upon rocks 
or the chain. Make your excavation quite deep, 
filling in the bottom with some two inches of hem- 
lock twigs or something of like nature, so as to 
prevent the gathering of moisture and a conse- 
quent freeze. Secure to a clog, or use a grapnel. 
The latter is in most cases preferable, as it may 
be buried from sight, while the former adds one 
more to the objects likelv to arouse suspicion. 

The covering is something that vou will pretty 
much have to learn for yourself. Like swimming, 
no one can teach it by any amount of talking; 
practice is necessary to acquire the trick. Moss, 
leaves and rotten wood are the principal mater- 



TRAPPING RED FOX. 6=> 

ials used, though pinches of herbage and dirt may 
be added to harmonize with set and surroundings. 
Leaves, however, should be used sparingly, as 
they change shape with every phase of weather, 
and thus frequently spoil what would otherwise 
have remained a good covering. If well rotted 
they give less trouble in this respect, and offer 
less resistance to the jaws in closing. 

When using bait, if not setting in a bed, find a 
spot where little building is required to protect 
it — a hollow log or stump, the entrance to an old 
burrow, a niche in a. ledge or hole under a rock. 
Sometimes, where a trout-stream flows under a 
step bluff, a little shelf is found in the face of the 
bluff (and one can usually be made if it is not 
already there) ; and by placing a trap on the shelf 
and the bait just above it, you have sly Mr. Fox 
at great disadvantage, as he must leap from the 
opposite side of the brook to the embankment to 
reach the bait. A projection in the face of a cliff, 
several feet from the ground, if it is inaccessible 
from overhead or either side may be similarly 
improved. 

Always be on the lookout for such places as 
these, where those sharp eyes and that keen, 
pointed nose will be kept at a distance from your 
set until it is too late for them to detect signs of 
danger. 

Old roads offer good possibilities for traps 
without bait. Unused plain roads, where the 



86 



r<>\ TRAPPING. 



grass Ims sprung up may be practically covered 
by placing a trap in each wheel-rut and the cen- 
tral path. The space under a set of bars may be 
partly filled with brush and two or three traps 
placed side by side in the opening with good 
chances of success. We say two or three traps, 
;is by so doing ii larger opening rriay be left, which 
adds greatly to your chances. An attempt to 
coax this slippery fellow into narrow quarters 
quickly excites his suspicions. 

Cow and sheep paths are much traveled by rev 
mini, especially those leading around and 
through swamps. These are more easily trapped 
than roads, a good method being to lirsi go along 
the path with your decoy scent) applying at inter- 
vals to Objects close beside I he path, ;i 1 1< I (hen 

setting traps, without bait, between the "doc- 
tored" points. An old pelt of some sort dragged 
behind von will serve to kill your own scent, and 
to keep the intended victim to the path. 

As stated, an important element of successful 
fox trapping is to make ns little disturbance, and 
to leave us little scent us possible, in working 
around, and going to and from trap. II follows 

Mien Mini one should not only aim so to fix his 

imps Mini they will require no actual attention 
under ordinary conditions of weather, except at 
considerable intervals, but should invariably 
locate them with a view to bejng able to look after 




\V II mi: I'O \ SKINS. 



68 FOX TRAPPING. 

them in a way not to arouse wily reynard's sus- 
picions. 

Sometimes, when trapping along a creek or 
other waters where it is not convenient to keep 
a boat, a rude raft may be constructed from which 
to make sets, and to be employed in visiting same. 
It simplifies the work one half to be able to do the 
whole thing by water, as water leaves neither 
scent nor trail. But where it is not possible to 
make use of this helpful agent, care should be 
taken to select a spot that can be approached over 
ledgy ground, or by jumping from rock to rock, 
two short strips of board to be stepped upon al- 
ternately, being often useful in bridging over any 
breaks that may occur in such line of approach. 

Where this method cannot be employed, owing 
to the nature of the ground, it is advisable to vary 
the route in visiting, as by always following the 
same line a well defined trail will soon be made, 
which is certain to excite suspicion in an animal 
as shy as the fox. When dealing with an unus- 
ually shrewd customer, some wear snowshoes or 
strap hide of some sort on the feet, either of which 
is not a bad plan, as well as that of dragging a 
fresh pelt behind one to obliterate one's trail. 

As to making beds of chaff, while I have no 
personal experience with this material, it never 
impressed me as being the proper thing for the 
purpose, as it is out of place in the woods or 
fields. If a man comes upon a pile of chaff any- 



TRAPPING RED FOX. 69 

where away from buildings, it instantly occurs to 
him as being queer that it should be in such a 
place. Do you not suppose that the wild crea- 
tures, whose very existence depends upon their 
sharpness of observation, are likely to note the 
unfitness of the thing quicker than we? Of course, 
if the chaff be deposited in place early in the 
season, allowing time to discolor and decay, it 
may help the case, or feathers may be thrown 
over the bed. But in the latter event wind may 
at any time remove the covering. For myself, I 
have always had better luck in making sets for 
any animal with materials obtained from the 
immediate surroundings, and having therefore 
nothing foreign in smell or appearance to offend 
the creature's nose or eye. 

Now a few words as to the fox's regard for 
iron. Does he feel that it is a thing to be avoided 
or not? It is my belief, brother trappers, that 
he does, under certain circumstances, have a 
strong instinctive fear of metal of any kind. That 
is to say, when he finds it in places where as a 
rule it is not to be found. The fact that he will 
walk for miles on the railroad track, and even 
upon the rails, is no argument to tin 1 contrary, 
for the reason that lie lias become accustomed to 
the iron in such places. A large quantity does 
not alarm him, but a small piece, half hidden in 
the dirt, in field or wood where he is not accus- 
tomed to see it, awakes his distrust. For the same 



TRAPPING RED FOX. 71 

reason, he will trot deliberately out in the road 
in front of a passing team, when the mere snap- 
ping of a twig beneath the hunter's feet would 
send him off flying. He has learned that danger 
rarely comes to him from persons traveling by 
team; it is of the stealthy step and the swift 
act of raising a gun that instinct has taught him 
to stand in fear. And so it is with respect to iron. 
It is all right in its place, he knows, but he also 
knows that it is quite out of place — from his 
standpoint, at least — in proximity to his favorite 
articles of diet. Why even the stupid muskrat, 
who will go into people's cellars, and in fact 
most everywhere else he wants to, and who will 
walk into any sort of set so long as the trap be 
covered, will not step into a bare trap. Dozens 
of times have I had my dog follow the tracks one 
has made around my trap when it was left bare 
by falling water, but invariably the rat has left 
the bait rather than put his foot on the uncovered 
trap. It is absurd to think the thick-headed musk- 
rat is sharper in any respec t than wise Mr. Fox. 



CHAPTER IX. 

RED AND GREY. 

I will give a method for trapping the grey fox, 
and have to say trap him the same as the red 
fox, as any method that will take one will do for 
the other, says L. M. Pickens, of Tennessee. The 
trapper can easily tell which of these species he 
is setting for, as the grey fox has more of a round 
track, while his red brother leaves a much larger 
and longer imprint. 

Each of these animals are great rovers, start- 
ing on a forage by sunset, traveling many miles 
in a night; never holing up for the bitterest 
freeze that comes. 

Look for fox tracks in stock paths, old roads 
not much used, places under fences, washouts, 
and in large gullies, as such places are their trav- 
els, yet many other unnamed places suited risks 
for your traps may be found if one is closely look- 
ing around. 

Carry with you a hardwood stick, ready shar- 
pened, with which to dig the pit for your traps, 
and dig this lengthwise with the path, (not 
across it), and deep enough so the trap will be 
just a little below level of surface; now place the 



RED AND GREY. 



73 



trap in, cover over springs and around outside of 
jaws with" dirt, and lay a piece of paper, flat 
leaves or a piece of cloth over jaws and pan, then 
pulverize some of the dirt you dug up, sprinkle 
over the trap 'till all is covered over good, then 






/ 



GKKY FOX. 



lay a dead weed or stick on each side of trap two 
or three inches away, which completes the set. 

When you fasten the trap, do not staple it, but 
wire the ring or end of chain to a bush you cut, 
one that the fox can drag a distance, which al- 
ways leaves the same trap pit or hole in readiness 
for your trap, which should immediately be 



74 FOX TRAPPING. 

smoked, set right back for another fox which is 
sure to come along, and if you are careful lie will 
he yours, as it all depends upon skillful setting 
and covering (lie trap chain. 

Have everything look as natural when you 
make the set as before, and I will guarantee (lie 
catch of every fox thai comes along. 

Use none but the best trap, and a New house 
No. '2 is recommended, handle if and everything 
about the set with gloves, learn to respect the 
cunning of a fox by cultivating a habit of stand- 
ing in one place, always be careful not to spit, 
whittle or leave any paper about a trap. 

Don't use rusty traps, scour off the rust, and 
boil for thirty minutes in any green bark (hat 
will coat them; willow, walnut, or chestnut are 
good. 

Don't lay your traps around on the ground at 
your sets; better carry them in a satchel, sack or 
something strapped around your shoulders. 

Don't whittle or spit where you are making a 
set. 

Don't staple your I raps, but cut and wire the 
chains to a green limb, one that the fox can drag 
a distance, and visit your traps regularly, avoid- 
ing any unnecessary company. 

The method recommended is only the "path 
method," and to be used altogether without any 
bait or scents; as I believe the best results are 
obtained by just taking a fox unawares, and the 



RED AND GREY. 75 

whole secret is iii choosing the place, theii know- 
ing just how to conceal the trap, and have every- 
thing as natural as possible when the set is made. 

Look for fox tracks in stock paths, in pastures, 
fields, and woods, in large gullies, washouts and 
places under fences, old roads not much used, 
sand bars along streams, and other places; al- 
ways selecting a narrow place for your set; ap- 
proaching such places with trap ready set and 
wired to the brush, then with ready sharpened 
hard wood stick, stop and stand in one place 
until trap is properly set, when you can just walk 
right on to the next place. 

Always dig the pit just the size of trap to be 
used, having the springs lengthwise in the path 
or trail — not across it — and just deep enough so 
the trap will be a little below the surface level 
when put in the pit. Cover over springs and 
around the outside of the jaws with dirt, lay a 
piece of paper over pan and jaws, or put fine 
moss, cotton, wool or dead grass inside of jaws 
and under pan; then haul on the fine dirt, just 
enough of it to thinly cover all, brush with a twig- 
to level and complete the set by laying a couple 
of dead weeds, or small sticks, just haphazzard 
like some two or three inches on each side of the 
trap. 

As soon as you kill your fox, reset the trap in 
the same pit, but if your brush drag is chewed up, 
replace it with a new one. In addition, if it is a 



RED AND GREY. 77 

female fox that is caught, kill it near a path or 
any good place where a set can be made and 
where yon have lately noticed a fox's track; then 
conceal and secure your trap as before, and the 
chances are as good for you to catch one or more 
fox at this set. 

Now try this method all the way through and 
you will soon see that 1 am right. My brother set 
his first fox trap Dec. 9th and on the morning of 
the 10th had a large female red fox and killed it 
in a pasture near a path, and that night caught 
the largest dog fox I ever saw or heard of. 

He got both these foxes just exactly as the 
above method indicates. The dog fox weighed 19 
pounds and its hide measured 5 ft. 5 inches on 
the board. The old fox had lots of gray hairs on 
his head, evidently an old timer. 



CHAPTER X. 

WIRE AND TWINE SNARE. 

Various are the ways being studied for the 
capture of the fox and other shy animals, says 
J. H. Shufelt, of Canada. Most every trapper 
has a particular method of his own. Years ago 
trappers thought it was necessary to set in water 
in order to be successful in catching foxes, but 
after a closer acquaintance, with the ways of the 
fox, it was found that they were easily caught in 
a steel trap on dry land in many ways. At the 
present time the trapper has found a less expen- 
sive way of catching them with the snare. This 
method has many advantages, and when properly 
set is a sure thing. It takes in most of those old 
sly ones that have been nipped by steel traps, etc. 

The method shown here is only one of the many 
ways of the snare. Owing to the peculiar fasten- 
ing of the snare, a powerful spring pole or weight 
can be used with a lighter wire. I use a copper 
or brass wire 1 gauge, with a foot or more slack 
between fastenings, which gives the spring pole 
a chance to instantly take advantage of the fox 
as soon as caught, when he will be caught up to 
the staple (which should be high enough from 

78 



WIRE AND TWINE SNARE. 



79 



the ground so the fox will swing clear) and 
choked. 

I set my snares in paths where weeds or grass 
grow each side to hide the snare. The loop 
should be seven inches in diameter, ten inches 
from the ground. It is as well before trapping to 




WIRE OR TWINE SNARE. 



get the fox to traveling a path by leaving some 
good scent along the path. This can be done by 
boring a three-fourths hole downward in a tree 
near the path and pour the scent in, which will 
last a long time. If the same care is used in set- 
ting snares as is used in trapping, I think the 
snare will catch more. They work well in cold 
weather, and some fine catches can be made after 



so 



FOX TRAPPING. 



a snowfall with the snare. Then the fur will be 
good and prime 

A Spring pole. 

B— Staple. 

C -Two small nails driven in tree. (Three inch 
nail head, end down, with snare looped at each 
mid with a Cool of slack between. As soon as the 
I) — three inch nail is pulled down, it will slip 
pasl (lie nail al lop end, when spring pole will 
instantly lake np Hie slack, also the fox, to staple 
and does ils work.) 

E — Slack line or wire. 

P — Loop should bo 7 inches in diameter and 
bollom of loop ten inches from the ground. 

Remarks — The nails should be driven above 
staple so il will pnll straight down to release (lie 
snare fastening. 



I may state thai I learned all the best ways of 
setting I raps for fox long ago from an old I rap- 
per, says A. II. Sutherland, of Nova Scotia. But 
I never bothered selling a Ira]) for a fox in my 
life, for the reason that I can catch them with 
snares on bare ground much easier and cheaper 
than with traps. Bui on snow if I could get fox 
io lake bail, I would try poison on him. I may 
add (hal I he snare is good for oilier animals be- 
sides I he fox, such as coon, skunk and wild cal. 

(Jo Io a hardware store and get some rabbit 
wire and pnl abonl live strands of il together, 



WIRE AND TWINE SNARE. 81 

and twist it just enough so that it will stay to- 
gether nicely. Have a small loop on both ends 
and run one end through the other so as to make 
a noose of it. Next get some good twine, put a 
piece about 10 or 12 inches in length into the 
loop on the end of the snare, that is, the end that 
is going to be fastened. 

Now find a path in an old clearing or in the 
woods, and select a place where you think- best 
to set your snare. Cut a stake about 2 feet long 
and 1% inches through, have a limb on the butt 
end of it almost % inch in length. Sharpen the 
small end of the stake and drive it in the ground, 
leaving about 10 or 12 inches above ground; then 
cut a nice little pole about an inch and a half at 
the butt end and sharpen it, trim off at about an 
inch at the top end and fasten your snare, or at 
least take your pole in both hands and force the 
butt end into the ground till it will be good and 
firm. 

Now bend down your pole and fasten your 
snare to it, and put the end of the pole under the 
catch on the stake. Be sure to drive your stake 
close enough to the path so as to have your snare 
light about the center of the path and the lower 
side of the snare about 8 inches from the ground. 
It is best to have them high enough so the fox 
cannot jump over them. Of course a man must 
use good judgment at setting snares just the 
same as he would in setting traps, 



82 



FOX TRAPPING. 



Another good place is a brush fence. Find 
holes under it where the fox will be going- 
through, put your snare there, and if there are 
any going you will have some of them. Next find 
a good stream in the woods or anywhere fre- 
quented by foxes, and if you find good trees that 
fall across the stream have a good sharp axe and 
give a good slash or two of the axe about the 
middle of the tree, or at least above the middle of 
the brook. As I was going to say, give a good 




THE WIRE LOOP. 



slash or two of the axe lengthwise of the tree and 
make a wedge shape stake and drive it into the 
tree, and then fasten your snare to a spring pole. 
If you prefer, you could bore an auger hole in the 
log and drive your pin in that way, and fasten 
the snare to the pin about 10 or 12 inches from 
the log so that the snare will hang downwards, 
it will do better. Be sure and have the lower 
side of snare 7 or 8 inches from the log. 

Now there is another kind of brass or copper 
wire that one strand will be enough to hold a fox. 



WIRE AND TWINE SNARE. 83 

If you find that they are cutting your snares put 
little rollers of wood in the snare boring a hole 
lengthwise with a % bit, and haye the roller al- 
most 5 inches long and say an inch in diameter. 
Put that on snare so it will run down to the 
side of his neck, and he will keep biting at it. 

I get No. 14 brass wire (mind, you must tem- 
per the wire) that I find the hardest part of the 
same. Cut your wire about 34 or 3G inches Ions,, 
make it into rings round, put in a good hot fire 
for three or four minutes, or until red. Be very 
careful and not let it lie on coal, handle very 
carefully; don't strike against anything Avhile 
hot, as it will break like glass, but if you have it 
tempered you cannot break it. I have caught 
three foxes in the same snare 1 , says Larry Burns, 
of Canada. 

You must make your snare just the same as a 
rabbit snare, only make a loop about six inches 
around. Find when the fox passes under a fence 
or on a cow path, in winter, find where they make 
a habit of going. Set your snare in such places 
or around old carrion in bushes, cedar is best, use 
weeds rolled round your snare, don't use too 
many as they will notice. Use a green stick to 
hold your snare fast, You wire about a foot from 
large end. Always stand up the stick just the 
same as growing. The stick should be 1% inches 
thick. Be careful and make as few foot marks 
as possible and stand on one side of your snare. 



84 FOX TRAPPING. 

While setting don't spit tobacco juice near snare. 



A great many foxes Lave been caught in this 
country by the plan of the drawing outlined, 
writes J. 0. Hunter; of Canada. A — the snare, 
should be made of rabbit wire, four or five 
si rands twisted together. Should be long enough 
to make a loop about seven inches in diameter 
when set. Bottom side of snare should be about 
six inches from the ground. E — is a little stick, 
sharp at one end and split at the other, to stick 
in the ground and slip bottom of snare in split 
end, to hold snare steady. 




^- i^L, 



SPRING POLK SNARK, 



B — is catch to hold down spring pole. C — is 
stake. D — is spring pole. Some bend down a 
sapling for a spring pole, but we think the best 
way is to cat and trim up a small pole about ten 
feet long; fasten the big end under a root and 
bend it down over a crotch, stake or small tree. 



WIRE AND TWINE SNARE. 85 

Snare should be set on a summer sheep path, 
where it goes through the bushes. 

Stake might be driven down a foot or more 
back from the path, where a branch of an ever- 
green bush would hang over it so as to hide it 
and a : string long enough from stake or trigger 
to snare to allow snare to rest over path. 

Of course, in making this set you will have to 
use care and your own ingenuity to a great ex- 
tent, to suit the requirements of the surround- 
ings. Another way is to find a log, tree or pole 
that lies across a brook that is tou wide for a fox 
to jump from one bank to the other. Set snare on 
log, but in this case, bottom side of snare should 
be only about four inches from log, as a fox will 
carry his nose lower while crossing a stream on 
a log. If the log is near the water, a spring pole 
should be used; if the log is high up from the 
water, fasten snare to log by driving in a wooden 
pin in the side of the log, and when the fox gets 
in snare he will tear around, fall off of log and 
hang all right. 



The following is said to be the manner in 
which they snare foxes in New Brunswick : Early 
in the season they go into the woods in some 
favorable locality and build a fence. This place 
is similar to Avhat would be constructed for par- 
tridge snaring, onlv of course with layer brush, 
leaving a narrow opening sufficiently wide for the 



86 



FOX TRAPPING. 



passage of a fox, fixing everything just as they 
wish it to be later on when ready for business, 
and having a spring pole at such a distance that 
it can be utilized when wanted. 

Take a dead hen or some kind of meat, place it 
in a jar, so that it gets well tainted; that when 




THE RUNAWAY SNARE SET 



the right time comes place the noose in place at 
the opening made in the fence, fasten to the 
spring pole, sprinkle a little of this tainted bait 
about, and await results. 

In going and coming, wooden shoes or clogs 
are worn, so that the fox will not get the scent of 
the party setting the trap. 

An animal in coming down the path passes its 
body or neck through the loop made of stout in- 



WIRE AND TWINE SNARE. §7 

sulated wire; in passing it steps on the trip stick 
which settles with the animal's weight, releasing 
the trigger, which in turn releases the stay-wire 
and jerks the loop around the animal ; the spring 
pole onto which the stay-wire is attached lifts 
your game up into the air, choking it to death 
and placing it out of reach of other animals that 
would otherwise destroy your fur. A small notch 
cut in the stay crotch where the end of the trip 
stick rests will insure the trigger to be released. 
This will hold the trip stick firm at the end, mak- 
ing it move only at the end where the animal 
stops. 

New and valuable methods are continually be- 
ing published in the Hunter-Trader-Trapper, an 
illustrated monthly magazine, of Columbus, Ohio. 



CHAPTER XI. 

TRAP, SNAKE, SHOOTING AND POISON. 

Home say that scent is no good, and that they 
can trap more without it, and they even go so far 
as to offer to match their craft with those using 
it. I don't call myself a trapper, says E. R. La- 
fleche, of Canada, as I never spend much time 
at hunting or trapping. When I go in the woods 
it is only for a little recreation, and not being 
an old hunter, I do not know it all yet, but will 
say that I can get more than my share of foxes 
in any place here in Canada. 

For the benefit of the young as well as many 
old trappers I will give here my methods of trap- 
ping, snaring, shooting and poisoning the fox, 
which is as good, if not better, than any I have 
seen. I can clean the foxes out of any section of 
the country without having to purchase any of 
the so-called famous scent. 

To take away the human scent from whatever 
I do, I make a bath as follows : First, take 2 lbs. 
of male cedar branches, 2 lbs. balsam branches, 
and 1 lb. good hen manure; chop the branches 
fine and place the whole in a pot in 2 gallons 
of soft water, "fresh rain water is the best/' and 

88 



TRAP, SNARE, SHOOTING AND POISON. 89 

boil until reduced to 1% gallon. Second, take a 
clean pail or tub, smoke it with birch or balsam 
bark, then place solution, cover and keep in a 
temperate place. To make the scent, take equal 
parts of the following : Fresh eel, honey in comb, 
chicken, pig liver, mice ; chop the whole together 
like mince meat and bottle, cork and place the 
bottle in a pail or tub of water so that it will 
float and in a warm place. A good way is to place 
the bottle in some shallow part of a lake, creek 
or river much exposed to the sun, and where the 
water is warm ; use a strong bottle and fill about 
three-fourths of it, and remove the cork from 
time to time for fear the fermentation smashes 
the bottle, and as soon as it has settled, cork well 
and keep in a temperate place for a week or so, 
and it is ready for use. 

Smear your snowshoes and 2fo where vou like, 
and there will not be a single fox that will come 
to your trail that will not follow it to the end. 

To take the iron smell from traps, first clean 
them well in warm water. Second, put them in 
the bath for 10 or 12 hours. Third, smoke them 
with birch and balsam bark; then they are ready 
to set, Place the trap 18 inches from the bait and 
put a few drops of the medicine under the pan of 
the trap, get a small shovel made of sieve wire, 
and sieve some snow over the trap and over your 
signs up to three feet or more from your bait. 
Don't spit or monkey with pipe and tobacco. 



90 



FOX TRAPPING. 



Place jour bait near a large stone, stump, fence 
or tree, and in such a way that the fox will be 
able to approach the bait from side where the 
(rap is; always set the trap so that the loose jaw 
will be at the far end from tlic bait. 




SOME CANADIAN REDS. 



It is a good thing to place some clean white 
cotton wool under the pan with a few drops of 
the scent. As soon as a fox is caught save a 
front leg and with it print some signs such as a 
live fox would do, all over tin 1 place where the 
trap is set; also save the urine from the bladder 
of the fox and when it becomes rancid, sprinkle 



TRAP, SNARE, SHOOTING AND POISON. yi 

a few drops on the weeds near the trap and the 
first fox that will come will be yours. 

To poison them strychnine is required. First, 
use fresh beef suet and make pills the size of a 
big pea. Second, put the size of a large grain of 
wheat of strychnine and stick these pills in your 
bait the same way as garlic in a roast. Third, 
take a fresh cow head, stick your pills in the 
fleshy parts of the head, but do not place them 
too close to each other, then hang the head out of 
the reach of the hens, etc., in a stable where there 
is cattle for one night, then take it to the place 
yon wish to leave it and there throw away like a 
lost head. A good way to place such bait is on a 
good sized lake. Place the head in the center of 
it and you will find your fox every time. 

Of course when you are using poison you must 
visit your bait every morning at daylight, so that 
the drifting snow, etc., will not cover the fox's 
tracks. While visiting the bait, keep to one side 
and from three to five feet from it; don't monkey 
around it, and if Mr. Fox came to the bait and 
if you have reason to think he has taken a pill, 
make a circuit of a 100 yards or more until you 
come to the trail of a fox going away from the 
bait. As soon as a fox feels the effect of the 
poison he will make several long jumps and then 
start to walk. 

Follow his tracks, and the moment you notice 
zigzags in the tracks, or that the fox is looking 



92 FOX TRAPPING. 

for an easy place to go through a fence, etc., this 
is a sure sign that the fox is sick, and you can 
follow that track and find the fox. Sometimes 
vou will find them not 50 yards from the bait, 
and oilier times a half or three-quarters of a mile 
from the bait. Tin's depends upon the time spent 
at the bait and is also due to other causes. 

A good way to poison them is to place a pill in 
a mouse or a small piece of liver, but I prefer to 
make pills with lard, about a square inch, and I 
insert the poison in the middle of the bullet. To 
do this, 1 bore a small hole with a stick, and then 
place the strychnine and cover the hole with the 
lard taken from it. To do this with ease, the 
lard must be partly frozen, smear with honey and 
keep frozen; then lake some frozen liver (any 
kind will do) and chop it in fine pieces and mix 
with honey and keep in a small wood box. Smoke 
the box the same as the traps and smear inside 
with honey and add a few drops of the medicine. 
The kind of box I recommend is one 4"xl2" made 
of either cedar or bass wood '/, inch thick, with 
two compartments, one 4"x8" for the liver pieces 
and the other 4"x4" for the bullets, with a sliding 
door at each end, and a piece of leather held by 
small screws on the top for the hand. 

When ready, take your ammunition and once 
on fox land, smear your snow shoes with the 
seonl and at every hundred yards drop a few bits 
of liver, and at every 500 yards or so, a few more 



TRAP, SNARE, SHOOTING AND POISON. 93 

with a pill, and in the pill stick a four inch black 
feather, and two feet to the right stick a strong 
weed, and in such a way that the wind will not 
throw it down. This will enable you to find the 
pill in case of a snow storm, and by brushing the 
snow lightly with your niit, the pill can be found 
at once, unless a fox took it. If the bullet has 
not been touched you can tell without having to 
remove the snow, as the feather will stand 
straight up, and this is a sure sign that the poison 
is still there. If no feather can be seen and if it 
has been stormy, brush the snow away, the lard is 
not as white as the snow and is easily found. 
Should it be gone, look carefully around the 
place; sometimes you will see the feather 10 or 
20 feet from the place you have placed the pill, 
and there or elsewhere you should see a place 
where the fox has been digging a hole. Examine 
the hole carefully and you may find the poison, 
as often when not hungry he will hide it for some 
other time, or for his friend. If you have reason 
to believe that a fox took the pill, and owing to 
stormy weather you cannot find him, you must 
survey the grounds as soon as the snow com- 
mences to melt, and by looking carefully along 
the fences you will often find them. Always keep 
trace of your pills; the best places to put these 
is in the middle of a lake or field; the black fea- 
ther will attract the attention of the foxes at 



94 



FOX TRAPPING. 



once, and they will make immediately for any 
Mack spots they see in a field or on a lake. 

To shoot them in winter: (let a complete suit 
made of white cotton, including cap, smear your 
suit with scent, or have some balls of cotton wool 
smeared with it and tie these around your belt 
with a good string in such a way that you can 
remove them at will. In a fine moonlight, take 
your snow shoes and go where the foxes are trav- 
el ing, and the moment you see one or hear one 
bark, circle around him so that the wind will 
carry the scent. Me will come towards 3'ou and 
will stop at a certain distance from you, and as 
you notice him on the alert, stop moving. The 
fox will put his head up and will look in all direc- 
tions in order to locate where the nest of the 
plump mice are, and as you notice this sound the 
squeal of the field mouse; the fox will at once 
run toward you; then shoot him. I use BB shot 
for foxes. 

Where foxes are plentiful, a hunter of some ex- 
perience can bag several in three or four hours. 
I have killed as many as four in three hours. A 
good wind, fine moonlight, and lots of foxes, a 
fellow will have fine sport. In shooting foxes, 
keep as much as possible on the small hills so as 
to survey more land. While I was living in the 
country I had good sport shooting them in the 
spring, in the high snow banks along the fences. 

Foxes are fond of playing at such places, es- 



TRAP, SNARE, SHOOTING AND POISON. 95 

pecially when there is a crust to carry them. 
This generally comes in Canada at the latter end 
of February and during the month of March. I 
have often killed them at bait. Horse meat is 
line bait for them. I once killed two big foxes at 
one shot. A hunter can always approach a fox 
when he is feeding, providing he knows how. 

When I trap fox I do it on a large scale. I al- 
ways set a combination of traps and snares. I 
carry a good supply of wire snares. The twine 
must be of dark color. In making a trail for 
fox, I take advantage of every good place I find 
either for trap or snares, either between bunches 
of weeds, trees, stones, stumps, roots, logs, fences, 
etc., where Mr. Fox will have to pass to follow 
my trail. On the rail or other board fences I use 
the twine snare, and on a barbed wire fence, the 
wire snare. In setting a twine snare, I always 
use a drop log or stone, and so fixed that as soon 
as the fox pulls the weight drops, and he is lifted 
and hung at once. I use ordinary wire fence 
staples and two to each set, one placed so that 
when the weight falls the neck of the fox is car- 
ried close to the staple and held there, and the 
other staple close to the drop. The drop must be 
placed so that it cannot reach the ground, and 
must weigh about three times as much as anv 
fox. 

Any fox that puts his head in the loop is sure 
to stay there. In the bush, I take advantage of 



96 FOX TRAPPING. 

all shanty roads, and I use spring poles when I 
find a suitable tree. I just trim the head and use 
a wire snare so that the squirrels, etc., will not 
bother it. 

I set trajDS at the baits and in the middle of the 
iields in the same way as poison, with bits of 
liver around it, and I cover the trap with a light 
coat of snow with the same little shovel, and un- 
der the pan I place some cotton wool with a few 
drops of scent, and should, while the fox is pick- 
ing up the pieces of liver, not step on the trap, he 
is sure to scratch for the mouse under the pan, 
and the trap will mouse him. 



CHAPTER XII. 

MY FIRST FOX. 

I presume that almost every boy trapper in 
North America has an ardent wish to trap one 
of these cunning sharp, witted animals, and I re- 
member I thought when a boy if I could only 
catch a fox in a trap my reputation as a trapper 
would be made, says F. W. Howard, of Wiscon- 
sin. 

Boys, you must not be discouraged if, after fol- 
lowing the methods you hear, you fail to take a 
fox, for probably most of you have only traps 
enough to make one set; any of us older trappers 
I think will admit that it is rather a difficult feat 
to make one set and take a fox in a reasonably 
short time. Most of the trappers who use these 
sets have likely from a dozen to fifty traps out 
for fox at one time. 

I have sometimes taken foxes in traps set for 
skunk, coon and mink, so that one may say that 
with a large number of traps out, even though 
not set with the care and precautions usually 
taken to catch a fox, the large number of chances 
open enable one to take here and there a blunder- 
ing and unwary fellow. I trapped my first fox 

97 



98 



FOX TRAPPING. 



when about twelve years old, by following a 
method given me by my grandfather, who was, in 
his day, a famous New England fox hunter. He 
was a very old man at that time, but when I 




CAUGHT IN A NO 1. 

expressed to him my heart's desire, asking him 
how and where to set the trap ( I had but one 
suitable for fox) he told me to get my father to 
let me take the oxen and plow, to make a couple 
of furrows ki our back pasture. Following his 



MY FIRST FOX. 99 

instructions I boiled the trap in weak lye and 
then daubed it over with fresh cow manure. The 
back pasture spoken of was a place where foxes 
traveled, and I presume that there was no week 
in the year that at least two or three foxes did 
not cross there. 

Now, this is a very important point, if you are 
making but one set especially, be sure and find a 
location for the set near some den or ledge where 
foxes live, or at some point where you know they 
are in the habit of crossing. But to continue, 
under my aged instructor's direction I plowed 
two furrows across the pasture in the form of an 
X. "Now," said he, "any fox that comes along 
will get down and run in the furrows. Set your 
traps where they cross, and I shouldn't wonder 
if you found one up here some fine morning." I 
scooped out a shallow hole of a size to hold the 
trap and clog, put a bunch of wool under the pan 
so it would spring easily, and covered all slightly 
and smoothly with dirt; Grandad then placed 
some lumps of dirt in such a way that a fox would 
be apt to step over them into the trap, if coming 
from any direction. He cautioned me in visiting 
the trap to walk by it some distance away. 

"How long do you think it will be before we 
catch a fox?", I asked. "Maybe not for a week, 
and maybe not at all, but I tell you boy, if you 
want to catch a fox you have got to stick to it." 
You can imagine my delight the next morning on 

L.0FC 



100 FOX TRAPPING. 

finding a fine red fox tangled up among some 
huckleberry bushes near by, and you may be 
sure I thought Grandad the greatest trapper in 
the world, and myself the next. 

I caught two more foxes at the same set before 
snow came, and will say that I have always found 
this method one of the surest, but of course very 
few boys are situated so as to have pastures that 
foxes cross, and which they can plow furrows in. 

Foxes are generally suspicious of a dead bait; 
however, at a bait which they have been in the 
habit of visiting, generally some carcass, they are 
more easily caught than at a freshly placed bait 
or carcass, and it is a good plan, if you try taking 
a fox in this way, to put out the carcass or large 
baits long enough in advance for them to get into 
the practice of coming to them; then place your 
traps, if possible, just before a fall of snow, and 
you are almost certain of catching one. The 
traps should always be set with care and treated 
as already described, to cover the scent of iron, 
as a fox considers the scent of man and iron a 
dangerous combination, and they undoubtedly 
know about traps and fear them. 

I like to use a live bait for fox and bobcats, and 
a rabbit is about the best for this purpose, be- 
cause they are easily secured. They form the 
principal game of these animals and they are 
nearly always looking for them. It is, I think, 
safe to say, that each grown fox or bobcat kill 
two hundred each on an average every year. The 



102 FOX TRAPPING. 

sight or hot scent of any game these animals are 
accustomed to hunt excites them, and their fac- 
ulties are at once concentrated on how to capture 
and get on the outside of said game as soon as 
possible. Under such conditions, they fall more 
easy prey to trappers' wiles. Select a point 
where you know foxes hunt, or not far from some 
den or ledge which they use. Find a hollow log 
or some tree that has a hollow butt with an open- 
ing; in either case, plug the hollow securely so 
the rabbit will have to stay up near the opening, 
put in some carrots, or ears of com, and cover the 
hole with woven wire, having about an inch mesh, 
or some barb wire stapled across will sometimes 
answer; they may in some cases be afraid of the 
wire, but 1 have had excellent success with this 
method, and my opinion is that the sight of live 
game makes them reckless (on one occasion I 
caught a fox in a wooden box about eight inches 
square and three or four feet long, having a wire 
door, hinged at the top and slanting in, — a self- 
setter — the trap had a live rabbit inside and was 
set along a creek, for the purpose of taking a 
mink alive and uninjured). 

If this method is used as a snow set, brush out 
all tracks, and whether on snow or bare ground, 
always make as few tracks and leave as little sign 
as possible around your traps. When setting 
for any shy animal, don't cover or handle trap or 
clog with bare hands. Use gloves and a small 
wooden spade. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

TENNESSEE TRAPPER'S METHODS. 

Do you trap foxes? If you do I bet you have 
some favorite way, and too, doubtless in most re- 
spects it's different from my way of trapping 
them, as there seems to be almost as many meth- 
ods as there are successful trappers; nor either 
is the same confined to the methods used, but to 
the kind of traps employed, baits, scents, etc., 
says B. P. Pickens. 

The Water Set, the Sheep Path Methods, are 
national, and known to be O. K., though the 
former requires bait attractions, and lots of other 
preparations, while the latter with me has never 
necessarily required baits or scents to make it a 
good success. 

I do not confine my fox trapping to any one 
method long, for I am always governed by the 
surroundings, and conditions, yel my traps arc 
set and concealed the same way, no matter for 
what animals I intend to trap. 

My traps set for skunk and rats are just as 
carefully set and concealed as though they were 
set for fox and coon. 

103 



104 FOX TRAPPING. 

My favorite is a Newhouse Fox Trap for every 
purpose, as it will hold. 

My reasons for using nothing smaller than a 
No. 2 Fox Trap is that a fellow does not always 
know if a fox will happen about his skunk traps 
or a big coon about his rat traps, and since I have 
found Mr. Fox and ?.fr. Coon a few times in the 
toils I make every preparation for his reception. 

I will endeavor to tell some of the things I do, 
which is a good way to take a fox. I commence 
early in the spring, if the ground is not ready to 
arrange for my fall and winter trapping, looking 
out for their signs, and continue to keep my eyes 
open all summer and around the pastures, in the 
fields, old roads, and in the Avoods, gullies and 
washouts. I arrange to trap them in stock paths 
by laying a limb or fence rail across these paths, 
while the use of stock all summer renders it old, 
and on either side of this path obstruction is just 
the place for a fox trap. I cut and wire my trap 
chain to the middle of a brush, one that a fox can 
drag some distance away, which leaves this same 
place a good risk for another catch, where if 
stapled to something he could not move he would 
render the place unfit for the rest of the season. 

Conceal your trap by digging a hole on either 
side of the path obstruction the size of the trap 
to be used, setting trap always springs with path, 
have the hole deep enough so when the trap is 
well covered with leaves, then on the leaves a 



TENNESSEE TRAPPER S METHOD. 105 

layer of dirt, it will just be level with the earth 
and look natural. 

To use this same underground method in cold 
freezing weather, first bed the trap hole good 
with dry leaves, or grass, over springs and all, 
being sure to use dry flat leaves to lay over the 
pan and jaws, then cover over all with some of 
the remaining dirt before mentioned. 

T3e sure to hide chain and handle everything 
with gloves. 

Now brush out your tracks, step over your trap 
and go on. 

One way of trapping foxes may be done like 
this. Around the pastures and in the woods 
where stock make paths lay a fence rail, or its 
equivalent across these paths, and the use of 
stock during the summer months will render 
these prearranged obstructions worn and natural 
by November trapping, and on either side of such 
an obstruction is a splendid place to set your 
trap for the fox to step in, Avrites L. M. Pickens. 

Paths, places under fences, little washouts, 
and old roads not much used are generally his 
favorite travels. See after his tracks in the dust, 
mud, or snow; notice how he steps over one of 
these obstructions that you arranged early in 
the summer, and other places, studying him, then 
set your trap this way, using every precaution 
to not change any of the surroundings. 

Carry with yon a little hard wood stick, ready 



TENNESSEE TRAPPER'S METHOD. 107 

sharpened, with which to dig a hole on either side 
of Hiis obstruction that has been Lying over the 
slock path just the size of your trap, and deep 
enough so your trap pan and jaws will be a little 
below the level of the surface. Now cover over 
springs good and all around the outside of jaws 
with sonic of (his dirt von dug up; now von have 
the trap concealed nil but its pan and inside of 
jaws; finish the set by laying some small flat 
leaves from jaws to pan, commencing and going 
nil the way around jaws; after this is done pul- 
verize some of the remaining dirt, and sprinkle 
ii over these leaves, entirely covering I hem. Take 
a small twig and level over trap, finishing the job. 
[t might help some to cut a part of a bird into 
fine pieces, dropping it and loose feathers over 
Ihis kind of a sei. 

To fasten the trap is some of the job. Cut a 
bush with a lot of limbs to ii, and wire your hap 
to the middle of* same securely, but do not have 
i he brush drag so heavily that lie cannot run off 
with it; it is intended for him to go immediately 
after In; is caught, for these reasons, lie will 
soon hang up some distance away, and thus fas- 
fened, lie is no! stationed at this good place where 
another may be caught, besides bis chances of 
pulling out of Ihe trap is less than it is if be was 
stapled to something be could not move. The 
brush is a give and take game, see? 

Be sure to cover chain of trap good, and have 



10K 



l*'ox TRAPPING. 



everything look ns natural when you leave us 
when .you came to set trap. Use No. 2 Newhouse, 
handling ii and everything with gloves; always 
stand In one place; leave no paper or whittlings 
on the premises. I use this method just outlined. 
Try il boys. 



ohaptp:r xiv. 

MANY GOOD METHODS. 

There is no animal roaming the woods so hard 
to catch 'm a sled trap as the fox, says a writer 
in the Orange -I add Farmer. Yet when one un- 
derstands his nature he is easily taken despite 
his cunning. The following method I have em- 
ployed successfully: First hike four good sled 

Imps and cover them with fresh blood at a 
slaughter house. Take a dead hen (one that has 
died a natural death will do if there is no odor), 
ami 111 ii a wire up in her head and down in her 
body; also wires through her feel and legs. Se- 
lect a place where foxes run near a low bush or 

small tree. On a branch of (his, about three feet 
from the ground, fasten your hen solidly with 
the wires in her feel. By means of wire in her 
neck, bend ii so she will look as if she were on a 
roost. Be very particular on (his point. Set 

your trap a little below the surface of the soil, 
so Ihal the tops are level. Now cover up witli 
leaves and grass so that there is no difference 
in appearance from the surrounding ground. Be 
sure the chains are well slaked. Mi*. Fox comes 
up and sees I he hen. He squats down on his 



io» 



HO FOX TRAPPING. 

stomach, lie will lie there for five minutes 
watching the lien. Then he makes a spring- for 
her neck, and gets it, but the traps get him and 
the hoy gels the fox if lie is cute enough. 



Well here is how I caught my first fox, says ( 5. 
F. ilotchkiss, of Wisconsin. Jt was in the winter 
of 1887 and 1888. I was working for a farmer 
here in Shawano Co., had to drive the stock to the 
river to water all winter. 1 noticed fox tracks 
on the ice so I bought a double spring Newhouse. 
Gave 60c for it, took some chaff from the hay in 
I he cow stable for a bed and set the trap on the 
liver bank under a large hemlock to protect it 
from storms, covered trap with chaff and strewed 
pieces of chicken and feathers on the bed. In four 
days I had two foxes, I, hen some one stole my trap 
and I did not try any more then. Last winter 1 
was working for the same farmer again. He lost 
two sheep. We drew the carcasses out in the 
woods, set four traps at one sheep and six at the 
other. In seven weeks we had 14 foxes and we 
lost do time from other work. We pulled wool 
from the sheep to cover the traps with. I do not 
lh ink it best to spit near a fox trap, especially 
tobacco spit. There may be some foxes that do 
not care for it, but I know they are not all built 
thai way. 



MANY GOOD METHODS. HI 

One of my methods of trapping Reynard was 
as follows: First, thoroughly besmear the trap 
with droppings from cattle, using no other pre- 
paration, neither boiling or smoking, as sonic 
recommend to prevent their fear of human scent, 
then my favorite sols being in the path of some 
old timber or wood road or cattle path in some 
unusua] pasture. After selecting the place best 
suited, according to my best judgment, take a 
knife to cut out a hole corresponding to size of 
trap, remove carefully all loose earth. I usually 
carried a small basket for the reception of every- 
thing taken up this way. Sel the trap carefully, 
covering loosely with some coarse material and 
topping the whole with material to correspond 
with the surrounding surface of paths, and lastly 
laying a small twig across just at one side of 
where the trap is set, as a fox will always step 
over any small obstruction, and by placing the 
twig in this manner he would step over into the 
liap. 

In I he seel ion of country which I am now 
writing, that just east of (he White Mountains 
in New Hampshire, there were innumerable such 
roads and paths, so thai, I had all I he territory 
I desired for I he purpose. Have caught many a 
sly chap in this manner. Had a good grapple 
ai end of chain and never fastened a trap but let 
them make a few jumps when they would nearly 
always get caught up, yet on a few occasions have 





THIRTY SILVER FOX SKINS WORTH $5000. 



MANY GOOD METHODS. 113 

had to put up a pretty stiff hunt before locating 
them. For instance, there might be a snow storm, 
if late in the season, or a heavv rain. In this case 

7 *y 

there might not be any signs to go by, and I would 
have to go on a blind hunt and cover considerable 
ground before T could skin my fox. 



I had my traps all set one fall and everything 
was coming my way, until one morning I found 
that I was dealing with a fox that knew as much 
about trapping as I did. I had my trap set in a 
spring and every time he wanted to steal bait he 
could manage it without getting into the trap. I 
let the trap set the same way and kept it baited 
but meanwhile I was thinking of a plan to cap- 
ture him. In fixing the spring I made a "dam out 
of dirt, placing a few small flat stones on top of 
it. Now I made up my mind that as the dam 
was the nearest point to the bait that he must be 
stealing it from that place. Now I took the trap 
out of the spring and put in a stone covered with 
a tuft of grass to resemble the trap and setting 
the trap itself in the dam, covering with dirt and 
laying a little flat stone on the pan. I had made 
up my mind that when he stepped on the dam he 
would step on the small stones that I had laid on 
top to keep the dirt from washing away. While 
stepping on the dam to reach for the bait he 
stepped on the small stone on the pan and was 



114 FOX TRAPPING. 

held fast by a No. 2% Blake & Lamb trap, just 
as I had calculated on. 



One way of trapping fox is setting under 
water, especially in slow moving water, is most 
effectual in killing the trap odor, says a Michigan 
trapper. The metallic smell will not rise through 
water, but will be absorbed and carried away by 
ii. As much as a fortnight before setting take a 
hoe and dig a shallow pool in a swamp where 
foxes are known to cross. Dig \i six or seven feet 
across in a mucky ooze and leave a drain way or 
outlet open so that in event of rain storms, water 
will not rise and stand too deep in the pool. The 
pool should bear as few evidences as possible of 
having been made by man. In the course of a 
fortnight after the scent of the trapper has faded 
away and leaves have fallen, the trap is smeared 
with tallow and I he chain is fastened to long nar- 
row stone, approaching so as to make and leave 
as few tracks as possible. The trap along with 
the stone and chain is set in the bottom of the 
pool, not in I he center, but so near one side that 
the Iran will be from 12 to 14 inches from the 
low bank. A little tuft of grass as large as a 
soda biscuit is placed directlv over the trap rest- 
ing on il, so the lop of the tuft will show a little 
above the water, looking as though it grew there. 
About a foot be von d it further out in the water 
another tuft a little larger and thicker, is placed 



MANY GOOD METHODS. 116 

so it will show distinctly above the water, and on 
it place the bait. A fox crossing- the swamp on a 
chilly day scenting the bait will approach the 
pool. To avoid wading in the cold muddy water 
he will probably step on the nearest tuft. That is 
the one on the trap in which he will be caught by 
the foreleg. 



I will tell you what I know about the fox, says 
a Canadian trapper. He is the slyest animal we 
have to deal with here. I think the best way is 
to use several different ways to trap foxes, and 
your chances will be doubled in taking them. 

Take a horse or beef head and put it out in the 
woods and leave it there for about a week. Then 
if the foxes have been at it, set your traps and 
cover with leaves or dead pine needles. When 
you are leaving take a brush and brush some 
snow over your traps to about half cover the 
leaves. Leave no foot marks around and you will 
be pretty sure to get your fox. 

Another good way is to take tainted beef or 
pig kidneys and put them at the back of a V, 
made by two logs falling across each other. I took 
one this way before the snow came, but he got 
away with my trap. 

T have read and heard a lot about human scent 
and animals being afraid of it. I have seen 
enough to be sure that fox are not afraid of either 



MANY (;<><>l> METHODS. 117 

human scent or steel traps, if the dirt is not dis- 
turbed around the trap. 



^^ lien snow is plentiful so that sly reynard 
may be tracked, then search out his haunts and 
find where he sleeps in the day time, says a Ca- 
nadian hunter. They seldom go in holes in the 
winter, and in the bright sunny days are very 
sleepy. In tracking yon will see marks where 
they have been lying, generally in souk 1 elevated 
position close to their haunts, where they may be 
caught napping as they often are caught. The 
snow should be soft so as to make the least noise 
possible, but it is astonishing the amount of noise 
you can make and still not disturb them, provid- 
ing you have been thoughtful enough to keep the 
wind in your favor, as they are very quick to 
smell a person, so in consequence you should al- 
ways face the wind and go easy in your search. 
The snow shoes are a great help when the snow 
is deep, as it is then that the fox is easiest gotten 
as they will not go far in the dee]) snow. Try it 
boys and be surprised at your success. 



I will try and explain to you my method of 
catching fox alive, writes Howard Hurst, of 
Pennsylvania. Take a common box trap, put a 
wire partition about 4 inches from back end of 
trap. On the back end of trap put a wire door 
that you can open and shut. Take the trap to 



118 FOX TRAPPING. 

some good den, take a small live chicken and put 
in the back part of trap. The noise of the chicken 
will attract the foxes' attention and he will enter 
the trap door. I saw four caught this way last 
spring by a boy 9 years old. 



I will mention how you can get a fox without 
bait, says Jarvis Green, of Maine. Look up an 
old path or wood road where you see that they 
have traveled, and notice a mound or rise of 
ground; now the foxes always stop to urinate on 
all such places. When you see the wind and 
atmosphere indicates a fall of snow, go and set 
your trap, smear with balsam of lir, cedar, hem- 
lock or spruce, set your trap on center of mound 
and on one side stick up a tree branch to look as 
if grown there, about eight inches high, fasten 
trap to a clog by the middle, cover trap lightly 
with some fine substance. A drop or two of scent 
is sure of every one that comes along. Try this. 
The Blake & Lamb trap is best. I have only one 
fault with the single spring and that is the 
trencher is too large. On the new style if the 
animal steps on the edge of trencher, result is a 
toe or two will be left. Be careful in covering- 
trap so that when it springs the jaws will shut 
ti^ht. 



When I was a boy I used to hunt foxes with 
dog and guD. In tracking them I noticed that 



120 FOX TRAPPING. 

they would go to every skunk that was killed, 
writes L. M. Qartwright, of Pennsylvania, near 
where they traveled, and nose around, but never 
saw where they ate any of it, so 1 used the scent 
successfully in catching them. I have caught 
many of them in No. 1 Newhouse trap fastened 
to a clog; had one to pull the staple out of a clog 
and carry trap as much as five miles before catch- 
ing him, and if it had not been for a fresh fall 
of snow would have been out. 

About as sure a way to catch fox (if you have 
the proper place) is to snare him. Here they very 
often cross the creek on logs or trees that have 
fallen across, when the creek is not frozen over. 
Take about three and a half feet of wire, such as 
is used for baling hay, make a snare, staple or 
spike the end of wire down on the side of the tree 
about the center of the creek, bend wire up so the 
loop comes over the center of log, make loop about 
seven or eight inches in diameter, set small bush 
on each side, stick in log and cover just over top 
of snare. If properly set will catch fox, coon and 
dogs (so it is best to set where dogs do not 
travel ) . 

I suppose any log up from the ground high 
enough would do by using the scent from the 
female fox. Another way, drive a stake beside a 
log, set trap about six to nine inches away, pour 
fish brine on stake and see what it will do. This 
should be away from dogs. 



MANY GOOD METHODS. 121 

My way of trapping the fox is by the old meth- 
od. Take a bushel of buckwheat chaff and where 
foxes travel nearly every night scatter it about 
four feet around, and take a stick and pat the 
chaff down so it is nice and smooth all over the 
bed. Then take tallow cracklings and scatter 
them over the bed about a foot apart, then leave 
everything natural, and as soon as a fox takes 
the bait place your trap (which should be a dou- 
ble spring Newhouse or a No. 2% B. & L.) set it 
in center of bed and cover about % or 1 inch with 
chaff. Put cotton under pan so it will not hinder 
trap from springing. The trap should be fastened 
to a clog or drag hook. I say to young trappers 
try my way and you will be successful. 



Do not spit or drop anything or touch anything 
with your bare hands, says a Vermont trapper. 
Yes, I know some say animals are not afraid of 
human scent. I have my Ideas and know what 
T have to do to be successful. If others can make 
a success in a different way I will not disagree 
with them. You cut a stake, sharpen it at one 
end, cut it about 15 inches long, about 1 inch in 
diameter; leave a prong about three inches long 
and about three inches from top to stake down 
trap. I will set this No. 2% Blake now. I ask all 
of you to pay attention, as I have often made the 
assertion that T could set a fox trap before 400 
persons and not ten of them would make fox 



12 2 FOX TRAPPING. 

trappers. Now let me set this trap and carry it 
set to this bank, which is a sharp knoll about two 
feet high. I take my digger and cut a sod 6 
inches square. Now I dig a hole back in the bank 
6 or 8 inches and about three inches across. Make 
the cavity large enough to set trap about 3 inches 
deep, place ring over stake and drive stake in 
ground under where you set the trap. Set trap 
so pan Avill be about three inches from mouth of 
hole and square in front of hole. Now with dig- 
ger cover trap about */2 i ncn deep so it will be all 
covered evenly. Put two pieces of bait in hole 
beyond trap and about three inches from mouth, 
and one in further end of hole. Drop a few drops 
of scent at mouth of hole and the thing is done. 
If you have paid attention you will see that I 
have touched nothing with my hands and never 
stepped out of my tracks setting trap. 



The fox is, without doubt, the most cunning of 
all cunning animals Ave trappers have to trap, 
says an Eastern trapper. Many times have I been 
to my fox traps to find one or so turned bottom 
side up and no fox. A fox will reach into a bed 
and take your bait with his paw, and I have 
trapped them Avhen actions said plain as words, 
"you can't fool me." 

I find the No. 1% Newhouse a very good trap 
for the fox, especially in early fall Avhen the 
ground don't freeze. A fox will start on his 



MANY GOOD METHODS. 123 

nightly rounds and frequent small clearings in 
woods, sandy side hills and such places, and that 
is the place a trapper wants a few tanglefoot. I 
have trapped fox for quite a number of years, and 
I never caught one by accident yet. I always have 
to set for fox and fox only. 

In regard to poisoning, I think that a man that 
uses it ought to be shot full of holes. In regard 
to iron smell, I will say that fox can smell iron, 
but bury your trap deep enough and you will be 
all right. A good scent is as follows : Take skunk 
essence, white of eggs, and let stand about one 
week. Use about five drops and I will warrant 
it to be the best fox scent made. 



We all know it's difficult to catch the fox on 
dry land, although it is done, says a New En- 
gland trapper. There are thousands of fox who 
fall victims to this way, and I believe it a more 
successful method than any in existence. I shall 
recommend a spring to set your trap in because 
the water does not rise or fall much, like a brook. 
Carefully dig out your spring in July or August, 
arranging it so that you will have it ready by fall, 
by placing a flat stone about fifteen inches from 
the stone so it will project above water about one 
inch ; on top of this place a sod about three inches 
thick if possible, and have the edges come into 
the water so it will look natural. Cut your sods 



124 FOX TltiVrPINfl. 

that you are to lix inside the trap, and lay up to 
dry when you prepare your place. 

When the time is ready for setting your trap, 
go to the place by walking up the outlet of the 
spring or brook, using the greatest care, and not 
touch the brushes or anything aruund the trap; 
place your trap very near the edge of the spring, 
about six or eight inches from the sod; have the 
trap entirely under water, and place your sod, 
cut for the purpose, on the pan, have it cover all 
the space inside the trap, and be sure it is out of 
water enough to offer a dry footing for the fox, 
and not over two inches from the shore. 

Some have the shore cut out so half the trap 
is on apparently dry land. Either way is all 
right. Place .your bait on the side of the sod, 
using scent and being sure that your bait or scent 
cannot be reached except by the fox stepping on 
the pan of the trap, and you will get your fox. 

When you visit your trap do not go too near, 
as all these things have their effect. I should 
recommend for bait cat or muskrat, a piece half 
the size of an egg is all right. It should be pre- 
pared by placing in a perfectly clean jar the 
number of bait you wish, and allow to taint, put- 
ting the scent in with the bait, or dropping on the 
bait after you place on sod. You must use the 
greatest care in handling your bait. Do not take 
out or place on the bait with your bare hands. 
Use a stick. 



MANY GOOD METHODS. 



126 



I have been waiting for some of the fox trap- 
pers of the Red River Valley, says a Minnesota 
trapper, to write and tell ns how they manage 
to pinch Mr, Reynard's toes. I think we have a 
harder place here to trap fox than you Eastern 
fellows have. The country is just as level as a 
board and no timber, and we are liable to have a 




NEW ENGLAND TKAPPKKS CATCH. 

blizzard any hour. What makes it hard to trap is 
that the traps always blow in if you haven't got 
them in a good place. I have quite a trick to catch 
the fox, at least I have had the best luck with it. 
I first find a place where an old straw pile was 
burned, then smear my traps with blood and hide 
them good in ashes, erase all of my tracks and 



126 FOX TRAPPING. 

drop a few spirits of anise oil all around. For 
bait I generally use the entrails of a hog or beef. 
Last winter I caught two without any bait; just 
the oil. Last winter I had good luck with dead 
chickens. 1 always staple my traps to a clog of 
about twelve or fifteen pounds weight. On this 
clog I nailed the chicken and I got ever} fox that 
came around. 

I only trapped one month with two traps, No. 
2 Newhouse, and 1 got fox and 1 wolf, and that 
was all the fox there were inside of about three 
or four miles, and I didn't have time to go further 
because I am a farmer and have my stock to tend. 



If you know Avhere there is a meadow with hay 
or straw stacked out on it, says Austin Palin, of 
Indiana, and if you will go to this stack after a 
little snow and there has been a fox in the field, 
he will be pretty sure to have gone to the stack 
to nose around. I first go and catch some fish 
about C> or 8 inches long. I generally get suckers. 
I now clean my traps by boiling them in weak lye, 
then reboil them in evergreen boughs. I think it 
advisable to run beeswax over your trap, but I 
have had success without the beeswax. 

After you have your traps cleaned and fixed 
do not handle them with your bare hands but 
put on a pair of gloves, take your trap and fish 
and a piece of wood about 4 feet long and the 
thickness of your arm and go to the stack. Now 



MANY GOOD METHODS. 127 

raise up the edge of the hay at the ground and 
slip the fish (one will be enough) back under the 
hay 6 or 8 inches, then set your trap directly in 
front of it, covering with the fine chaff; now fas- 
ten the trap chain to the piece of wood and slip 
the stick hack under the stack, working it around 
a little so when the fox gets fast he can pull it out 
easily. Now take a stick and straighten out the 
hay over the trap and scratch out all signs and 
your set is complete. Make the above set when 
there is no snow. 



We trapped foxes by baiting in beds mostly, 
says a Michigan trapper, though we caught five 
in the following manner: A wounded deer had 
fallen near two down trees which lap with tops 
crossed. We drew the deer into the apex or pen, 
as we noticed that foxes had been visiting the 
carcass. We cut notches out of these trees which 
were old and moss-covered, and set traps in the 
places prepared, covering neatly with moss. 

Foxes are prone to walk convenient logs in- 
vestigating anything that attracts them, and 
rarely look for danger under foot if the trap has 
been well placed and cleverly hidden. We smoked 
our traps and handled them with mittens. 



The red fox is the only species that abounds in 
this locality, says Wm. Muchon, of Minnesota. 
When run by the hounds he usually keeps half a 



128 



FOX TRAPPING. 



mile ahead, regulating his speed by that of the 
hounds, occasionally pausing a moment to divert 
himself with a mouse or to contemplate the land- 
scape or to listen for his pursuer. 

A most spirited and exciting chase occurs when 
the dogs gets close upon one in the open field. The 
fox relies so confidently upon his superior speed 
that I imagine he half tempts the dog to the race, 
but if he be a smart dog, and their course lies 
down hill over smooth ground, Eeynard must put 
his best foot forward and then sometimes suffers 
the ignominy of being run over by his pursuer, 
who, however, is quite unable to pick him up, 
owing to the speed. But uphill and in the woods 
the superior nimbleness and agility of the fox 
tells at once. 

Carry the carcass of a pig or a fowl to a distant 
field in mid-winter, and in a few nights his tracks 
cover the snow about it. The inexperienced 
youth, misled by this seeming carelessness of 
Reynard, suddenly conceives a project to enrich 
himself with fur, and wonders why the idea has 
not occurred to him before and to others. I knew 
a youthful yeoman of this kind who imagined he 
had found a mine of wealth discovering on a re- 
mote side hill between two woods a dead porker, 
upon which it appeared all the foxes of the neigh- 
borhood did nightly banquet. 

The clouds were burdened with snow and as 
the first flakes began to eddy down he set out, 



MANY GOOD METHODS. 129 

trap and broom in hand, already counting over in 
imagination the silver quarters he would receive 
for the lirst fox skin. With the utmost care and 
with a palpitating heart he removed enough of 
the trodden snow to allow the trap to sink below 
the surface. The next morning at dawn he was 
on his way to bring his fur. The snow had done 
its work effectually, and he believed had kept his 
secret well. 

Approaching nearer, the surface was unbroken, 
and doubt usurped the place of certainty in his 
mind. A slight wound marked the side of the 
porker, but there was no footprint near it. Look- 
ing up the hill, he saw where Reynard had walked 
leisurely doAvn toward his wanted bacon till with- 
in a few yards Avhen he had wheeled, and with 
prodigious strides disappeared in the woods. The 
stream of silver quarters suddenly set in another 
direction. 

The successful trapper commences in the fall, 
or before the first deep snow. In a field not too 
remote with an old axe he cuts a small place, say 
ten inches bv fourteen in the frozen ground, and 
removes the earth to the depth of three or four 
inches, then fills the cavity with dry ashes in 
which are placed bits of roasted cheese. Reynard 
is very suspicious and gives the place a wide 
berth, but the cheese is savory and the cold se- 
vere. He ventures a little closer every night un- 
til he can reach and pick out a piece from the 



130 FOX TRAPPING. 

ashes, and finding a fresh supply of the delectable 
morsels every night is soon thrown off his guard 
and his suspicions lulled. 

After a week of baiting in this way, the trapper 
carefully conceals his trap in the bed, first smok- 
ing it thoroughly with hemlock boughs so as to 
kill all smell of iron. If the weather favors, and 
the proper precautions have been taken he may 
succeed, though the chances are still greatly 
against him. 



I will say that we keep four of the best fox 
traps in the shape of four hounds that can be 
found in our part of the country, writes J. A. 
McKinnon, of Canada, and as for the month of 
November we sold $85.00 Avorth of fur, it will be 
easily seen that they pay for their keep. The fox 
hound, like the coon dog, must be a good one, 
properly bred and trained for the purpose, and 
they are never first class until they are two or 
three years old, although I have killed foxes 
ahead of dogs that were only nine months old, but 
these turned out to be exceptionally good dogs, 
and out of a litter of six or eight puppies half of 
the number may be worthless for what I call a 
good fox hound is one that will hunt for his fox 
alone, and that will run all day if necessary. 

I went out on the first snow and in one day 
captured three foxes, two of which I shot, and 
the other ran into a IioIIoav log; he was running 



MANY GOOD METHODS. 131 

so hard I believe he would have got into the rail 
if there had been no hole at all. I also find that 
the morning is the best time to find a fresh track, 
as it is then that Reynard is up and taking his 
morning walk through the old barren meadows, 
and partly cleared fields, in search of mice and 
other small game. 

In my experience I find that the females do not 
move around so much in the day time as the 
males do, for they are shyer than the males and 
are possessed of more cunningness. In our travels 
we always mark any fox dens we come across, so 
as to pay them a friendly call after a fresh fall 
of snow. 

We use the Winchester repeating shot guns, 
and find that for long range and quick shooting 
they are the best. We sometimes use our rifles 
but a fox is a small mark to shot at if he is run- 
ning at full speed. Brother trappers, get a pair 
of good fox hounds and you will get more foxes 
than with all the traps you could set in a week. 



I don't think there are many men now living 
that have skinned many more fox than I have, 
yet I can learn every year something new about 
Reynard, says O. Douglass, of Michigan. But 
what I do want to know is this: I see so much 
about water sets, and I don't understand how it 
can be done only for the fun of it. I have bought 
for many years, and I have as yet to see ma^y 



132 FOX TRAPPING. 

prime water trapped fox. They are caught too 
early to be prime, and I can't see where the money 
comes in to pay for your trouble. 

Now trappers, don't you think it is better to 
make some hue dry land sets in July or August 
and bait them once a week until they are prime, 
and you have them coming to your beds and they 
are not afraid of your work? I say this to young 
trappers. I have been trying all ways for sixty 
years and have caught them many different ways, 
but I do think the water set is the poorest way 
of all. Dry land sets for me every time in No- 
vember and December. 

T make my beds early and I use the scrap from 
hog's lard. I take one skunk scent bag to each 
bed to draw them to the bait, and when they come 
once they will call again. 

1 see where a buyer was called to buy 14 fox 
hides and only found one prime skin. All water 
caught. That is my experience Avith water caught 
fox. They have to be caught too early. It may 
be different in some localities, but not here, as 
the water is frozen by the time fox are prime. Try 
dry land sets and see if I am not right, and have 
more money for your work later on. 

I always set two traps to one bed, and cover 
with dry dirt until it freezes. Then I use chaff. 
Handle all with clean gloves and be as cunning 
as a fox vourself. 



CHAPTER XV. 

FRED AND THE OLD TRAPPER. 

Young trappers can learn much by making the 
rounds with experienced trappers. The following 
conversation between Fred and an old Pennsyl- 
vania trapper is interesting : 

"Where was the trap set? I do not see any 
bait pen." 

"Fred, you take this stick and walk up slowly 
to him; go up close and give him a sharp blow 
across the back of the neck. That will fix him. 
You see that big mossy log laying on the bank 
over there. That was where he was caught. We 
will now set the trap again. See this little sink 
in the log. That is where the trap was set. 
This limb is what the trap was fastened to, one 
end on the ground and the other comes just up to 
the log where the trap is set, and we will staple 
the trap to it. We will now cover it with moss 
just like this on this log, but we will get it from 
another log. No one could tell that there was a 
trap there." 

"Will not the fox smell it?" 

"He might if it was not for this fox carcass. 
We will skin the fox. Look out there, Fred, do 

134 



FRED AND THE OLD TRAPPER. 135 

not disturb the moss or anything on that log 
where the trap is. Keep away from that. We 
will put this carcass in the little hollow and will 
drive a crotched stake straddle of its neck ; drive 
it well down ; now take this stick and rake some 
leaves over it, cover the neck where the stake is 
quite well, the rest of the carcass only lightly. 
You have done it very well and the fox will not 
notice what scent there is on the trap as long as 
that carcass is there." 

"But vou had no carcass there when you 
caught this one, and I have heard that a fox was 
afraid of the scent of iron." 

u That is all bosh! Keep the traps free from 
all foreign scent and you need not be afraid of 
the scent of the iron, but if you catch some ani- 
mal in the trap then you must have some of the 
scent of that animal around near the trap. This 
will overcome what scent there is on the trap. 
This, however, is only necessary with shy animals 
like the fox. Coon and skunk are not afraid of 
what they smell. 

"How did you know that a fox would go on 
that log where that trap was set?" 

"By knowing the nature of the animal. When 
the fox smelt the bear bait in the pen there we 
knew that he would get on the highest point near 
the pen to investigate, and that point was that 
log." 

"Is this the only way you catch foxes?" 

"No, this is only one of the many ways*'* 



CHAPTEE XVI. 

EXPERIENCED TRAPPER'S TRICKS. 

The fox is the most cunning animal we have, 
consequently he is the most difficult one to trap, 
says 0. E. Matheny, of Ohio. But like all other 
animals he has a weak point, and if you attack 
him at this point he will, without a doubt, fall 
into your snares. One of the most important 
things when about to trap a fox is to have the 
trap perfectly clean. The word clean, in this 
sense, does not allude to freedom from rust, but 
means that the trap should be entirely free from 
human scent. In order to avoid this, the trap 
must be thoroughly washed in lye and when dry, 
well greased and smoked over burning feathers. 
It has already been said that the fox has a very 
keen scent, but it is particularly shy and scary 
at the least odor of the human body. It is there- 
fore necessary when handling the trap to use 
clean buckskin, or still better, rubber gloves, and 
unless this important precaution is observed suc- 
cess is very improbable. The next step is to make 
the bed for the trap, and although there are var- 
ious ways of doing this, the following, I believe, 
is the best method. 

18fl 



EXPERIENCED TRAPPER'S TRICKS. 137 

The bed should be about three and a half feet 
iu diameter, and made of wheat, hay or buck- 
wheat chaff. Some trappers use wood ashes, but 
an} 7 of the above will be found better. The ground 
upon which the bed is made should be hollowed 
out in the center so as to admit the trap, and the 
bed should be made as hard as possible and deep 
enough to cover the trap, and at the same time 
be perfectly level with the ground. 

When the bed is made as directed, take the trap 
(which should be a No. -2 and have a chain and 
clog attached to it) and place it in the hollow in 
the center of the bed. After setting the trap put 
some of the chaff inside the jaws as high as the 
pan. Cover the pan with paper so that the chaff 
will not prevent its working freely, and then 
cover the whole Avith chaff and level it off so that 
the fox will not suspect a trap to be there; finally 
bait it with fresh meat, cheese, or better still, 
cracklings after lard is pressed out. Scatter 
them liberally over the bed; do not tramp about 
the bed more than is absolutely necessary, and 
cover up all foot-tracks as much as possible. 

It is a good plan to smear the trap with assa- 
foetida or melted beeswax, with a few drops of 
the oil of rhodium. These are all good and may 
be employed for the purpose of deceiving a par- 
ticularly cunning fellow after all other strate- 
gems fail. Another good plan is to bait the bed 
several times before setting the trap, until the 



J 38 FOX TRAPPING. 

fox begins to think that this is the best place it 
ever knew to find a choice morsel ready at all 
hours. When a proper degree of confidence ap- 
pears to have been established then put the trap 
in its place and catch him — if you can. 



First take a No. 3 Blake & Lamb trap, and 1 ;;..': 
around over the fields or woods and find where 
the sand has washed down and is fine as wood 
ashes, says F. A. Aurand, of Michigan. You will 
always find if you keep close watch over the fields 
that a fox likes to get on the fine sand and play 
or walk over and around on it for some reason, 
as you Avill always find their tracks on the sand 
in the fall and spring. Now take for bait any of 
the following : dead chicken, or turkey, or beef's 
hind leg, but I think the best is beef's old head. 
Now take the old head, dig down in the sand and 
set the head down in the sand so that the jaws 
and nose are out of the sand about to the eyes. 
Now take your traps, about three No. 3 B. & L. 
traps, take a stake and fasten the rings to the 
stake, and drive the stake below the surface of 
the sand and cover it over the top. 

Now dig a small trench for the chains, lay the 
chains in the trenches, a trench for each chain. 
Spread the traps each way from the old head, and 
set the trap out away from the head as far as the 
chains will let them go, by driving the stake right 
close to the head. Then dig a small place in the 



EXPERIENCED TRAPPER'S TRICKS. 139 

sand so the trap will set just level with the surface 
of the sand, for each trap to set in. Take a small 
piece of cotton batton and put enough under each 
pan of the traps to keep the sand from getting 
under pans so they won't spring. Now take the 
sand that you took out of the places for the traps 
and cover them all over, traps, chains and all. 
Then take a small bush and brush out all your 
tracks and over the traps. If you have done your 
work well you can hardly tell where the traps 
are. You can use some good scent on the sand 
or on the old head, but I don't think it needs it. 
Fix the old head in the sand quite a little while 
before you want to trap. All I ever caught I 
caught in this way. If you do everything right I 
am sure of your success. 



I have visited hundreds of trappers in Maine 
and Canada, and have learned many of the se- 
crets of successful trapping from them and also 
from my own personal experience and observa- 
tion, writes N. C. Burbank. I have come to the 
conclusion that the basis of all the most success- 
ful secret decoys for catching fox is the substance 
taken from the glands of the female fox during 
the running season, mixed with grease of some 
sort, together with contents of the glands of the 
skunk, preferably the female taken in the spring 
or latter part of the winter. I do not pretend to 
say that every one will be successful who uses 



140 



FOX TRAPPING. 



that decoy. I am of the opinion, if directions are 
closely followed in the following method of water 
trapping for fox, yon are reasonably sure to catch 
tliem if you use that decoy. 

During the month of August or September se- 
lect some spring or place about a foot and a half 
from the edge, or in the center of a circular spring 
that is not over 4 feet wide, a sod 8 or 10 inches 
across, and arrange a place to set the trap a few 
inches from the outside. This must be done early 
in the season, so all evidence of human work and 
scent will be removed before trapping time. 




THE SPRING AND SOD SET, 



EXPERIENCED TRAPPER'S TRICKS. 141 

When the season arrives you are ready to set 
your trap, and you do so in the following man- 
ner : In selecting springs you must find one that 
lias an outlet so you can walk in the water for a 
distance of three rods, six or eight is better. Set 
your trap and take it up to the spring or place 
selected, walking in the water and using the 
greatest care not to touch bushes or anything to 
leave the scent of yourself. Place the trap in the 
place prepared in the early season, being sure it 
is covered over entirely, chain and all, by water. 
Then cover with dead leaves or whatever is on the 
bottom of the spring. Place upon the trap pan 
a small sod as light a one as possible, allowing 
it to be out of the water at least one inch so that 
the fox in reaching for the bait vn ill step on the 
sod, which should be six or eight inches from the 
shore. Fox, like the human being, do not like to 
wet their feet. 

Now you have the trap set and then comes the 
baiting. Take a small piece of meat and place it 
on the larger sod, using great care not to leave 
human scent, take a few drops of this decoy and 
place on the bait. Also take a rotten stick and 
break off a piece 6 or 8 inches long, being careful 
of handling, and place two or three drops on the 
end and stick it into the sod so it will stick up 
two inches or such a matter above it. Your trap 
is now ready for Reynard, and if you use great 



142 FOX TRAPPING. 

care in setting and in visiting your traps I am 
certain of your success. 

There are many methods of catching foxes and 
I am acquainted with them, not all, perhaps, as 
each man has a little different way, but I am sat- 
isfied the above for a water set it correct. 



Here in the East where I am trapping near the 
mountains, if we could not catch fox on the snow 
path we would not get any prime fur, says J. H. 
Shufelt, of Canada. 

I will give one of my snow sets that I use here 
for fox. It may not fit your case as every locality 
calls for its own method, and foxes are slyer in 
some places than others. I use a No. 3 Blake & 
Lamb trap with a three foot chain and grapple. 




ODORLESS AND WHITE AS SNOW. 



EXPERIENCED TRAPPER'S TRICKS. 143 

How to fix the trap? I take a large kettle and 
fill with water and put my traps in and get the 
water boiling hot. For every dozen of traps I 
put in one-half pint of lime not air slacked, and 
boil for ten minutes. Now take out your traps, 
which will be odorless and white as snow, and 
use gloves in handling and setting them. 

AVhen you get ready to set your traps go out 
in a large field where foxes are traveling, make a 
good path across the field by traveling back and 
forth. Where you want to make a set leave a 
little partition across the path to guide the fox 
in the trap, which is covered with white paper 
and a little snow. Be careful in setting and not 
leave tracks outside of the path nor lay any sticks 
across. When going to your traps walk in the 
path, which makes it better, and don't let too 
much snow get over them. Be careful and you 
will get vour fox. 

Do foxes eat skunk? I might say in answer to 
this question they do, and they will kill skunk if 
found outside of their dens. And if a fox is run 
in a den where there is a skunk, their odor is 
most always sure to prove fatal to a fox in a very 
short time. Several instances of this kind have 
happened in this locality where I am hunting and 
trapping. 

Foxes are very fond of skunk for food, and 
the musk makes a good scent for trapping foxes. 
A good scent for cold Aveather, for it never freezes. 



144 FOX TRAPPING. 

No doubt a good trapper will say, give me fresh 
bait. I might say give me a strong smelling bait, 
for when the fox is smelling a strong bait or scent 
he cannot smell anything else at the same time. 

Now for instance, if you were going out for a 
fox hunt, and your hound got scented by skunk, 
it would spoil his scenting anything, and he could 
not follow the trail. Several experiences have led 
me to think this is one reason why we make a 
better catch on a damp or rainy night. The bait 
smells so much stronger that it takes up more of 
the game's sense of smell and makes our chance 
of a catch better. The old trapper will oftimes 
make this remark, "Boys, I am going to make a 
big catch tonight — why, because it is going to be 
a damp and rainy night." Who knows why? 

I trap foxes by land and water set. I sometimes 
use a set called the all around land set. Every 
locality calls for its own method. I use two kinds 
of traps, Blake & Lamb and Newhouse. They are 
both all right. My trapping grounds are near 
the mountains where the foxes defy fox hounds, 
for they have dens in the rocks. 

The Hunter-Trader-Trapper, Columbus, Ohio, 
is in touch with fox trappers, hunters and owners 
of hounds from all parts of America, so that in- 
teresting articles are constantly being received 
and published. 

The following, by W. J. Taylor, of New York, 
is his method for trapping the red fox : Choose a 



146 



FOX TRAPPING. 



rotten stump near their runways, cut out a cav- 
ity in the top of the stump deep enough to set 
trap and allow one-half inch of finely pulverized 
rotten wood to cover trap, spring and chain. Do 
not handle pulverized wood with your hands. 
Have your traps thoroughly greased, chain and 
all, then smoke with hemlock, spruce, cedar or 
pine boughs. Smoke until trap and chain are 
black. This is to stop the smell of steel. Some- 
times I use a moss covered stump, that is a stump 
with moss growing all or partly around its sides. 
Out the cavity the same in stump, cover lightly 
with pulverized rotten wood. 

Now go to another moss covered stump, cut 
moss enough to cover top of stump, cut a circular 
piece out a little smaller than jaws of trap, place 
this right on top of trap, then place the rest on 
top of stump, trim outsides to match outside of 
stump. Handle moss with sharpened stick and 
knife, never with bare hands unless set is made 
one week before baiting and scenting. I generally 
make my sets two weeks before placing bait and 
scent. 

Place bait about six or eight feet from stump, 
always on lower hillside. Daub your fox scent 
on top of stump, side towards your bait. For bait 
I use muskrat carcasses, skunk, dead hens, rab- 
bits, fish or partly decomposed meat. My receipt 
for fox scent is fish oil one-half pint (made by 



EXPERIENCED TRAPPER'S TRICKS. 147 

placing fish in glass can in summer and hanging 
in sun until decomposed) the musk sacks of ten 
or more muskrats, one or more fox matrix which 
are obtained from the female fox, also fat from 
the inside of either sex is good. Mix all together. 
It will surely draw the fox. 




ADIRONDACK TRAPPER. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

REYNARD OUTWITTED. 

A good fox year can be counted upoii with 
reasonable certainty once every five years, says 
Martin Hunter, on the Labrador coast, at least so 
say the oldest residents. The year before they 
begin to come down from the interior, then the 
climax for great numbers. Then the following 
year they decrease in numbers to what they were 
two years before, and the winter following so few 
that one or two about in miles of coast is a 
rarety. 

Such was the case in the winter of 71 ; 69 had 
been a great fox year. What was not trapped in 
the winter of 70 had migrated back to the remote 
interior. Between the posts of Scum Islands and 
Moisie, a distance of twenty-one miles of coast, 
there was only known to be one fox — a red one — 
with a claw missing on his right paw, and he was 
as cunning an old fellow as ever bothered a trap- 
per. For a night or two he would play all kinds 
of tricks down about Moisie, and then we would 
hear of him around Seven Islands. There being 
no kind of hunting, the people got anxious as to 
who would succeed in catching the old rascal. 

149 



150 



FOX TRAPPING. 



Bait would be sprinkled about at certain places, 
and no traps. Big tail would come around and 
eat every scrap; this would be done for two or 
three nights in succession, and then the hunter 
would think the fox's fears were allayed, and 




FOX TRAPS WITH DRAGS 



carefully put two or three traps and the bait as 
usual. Next morning the bait would be gone, as 
before, but he would find his traps turned up side 
down. 

The fox we will say would pass and repass at a 
certain up-turned root or a point of trees, then 
the hunter would think a trap in his beaten track 
would surely nip him. Not so, however. The 



REYNARD OUTWITTED. 151 

trap would be nicely concealed, but old Keynard 
would deflex his road to suit the circumstances. 
Smoking, greasing, or all the usual modes of tak- 
ing the smell from the iron traps were of no 
avail ; when a trap was set where his supper was 
spread, that old fox would begin by digging a 
trench from a distance off in a straight line for 
the hidden traps, the closer he got to the danger 
the slower and more cautiously he would work. 
This we could see plainly next morning by stand- 
ing outside his works and reading his signs. 

There were better and older trappers in the 
field after this old stayer's life, but it was given 
to me to circumvent his maneuvers and possess 
his fur. I had reset my traps near the bait two 
nights in succession in the exact place where he 
had turned them over, and of course he burrowed 
along his old trench to get at them. This I care- 
fully noted and set another trap in the trench on 
edge. Something told me I was going to be suc- 
cessful, and I hardly slept that night. I was on 
my snowshoes and off at the first grey of the 
February morning. Before I got to the point 
where my traps were set I saw his fresh tracks 
leading off in the same direction I was going. My 
heart beat with expectation and anticipation as I 
hurried forward ; it was not for the value of the 
beast, but to have it to say I had killed the cun- 
ning fox of 1871 where all the old hunters had 
failed. 



15 2 FOX TRAPPING. 

Yes there he was sure enough, as I turned the 
last point ; I could hardly credit my good fortune, 
and was so afraid that he would even now escape 
that I walked right on top of him with my snow- 
shoes. He was pinned down tight with my weight 
and was powerless to even wriggle. I slipped my 
left hand under the snowshoe and with my other 
hand pulled down his heart; a quiver or two and 
tli at fox was a good fox. 

Indians never strike or shoot either foxes, mink 
or marten when they find them alive in the traps, 
as it causes the blood to collect and congeal where 
the bloAv was given, and spoils the looks of the 
skin, besides the annoyance of the blood when 
skinning. They hold the animal by the neck and 
with the other hand pull down the heart until the 
heart-strings break, and death is as sudden as if 
the spine were severed. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

FOX SHOOTING. 

The fox, although the cleverest animal sought 
after by New England hunters and trappers, says 
L. W. Beardsley, of Connecticut, seems to have 
one decided drawback, that of sight, which fre- 
quently costs him his life. Sly and clever with 
very acute nose and ear, he appears to be unable 
to tell a man from a tree or stone by sight alone, 
provided the persou remains motionless, but the 
slightest motion is detected and sends him dust- 
ing for cover. The above I have proved to my 
entire satisfaction time and again Avhen hunting 
this animal, a few instances of which I will quote 
below. 

While walking along the tracks of the Berk- 
shire Division R. R, which were bounded on the 
west by a steep hill with a fence three boards 
high, placed horizontally about eight inches 
apart skirting the track, I noticed beneath the 
lower board the legs of a fox moving toward me 
some seventy-five yards away. I stopped between 
the rails, half raising my 38-40 Stevens, telescope 
mounted, and waited for a favorable shot. When 
some thirty yards away the fox crawled under 

153 



FOX SHOOTING. 155 

the fence and trotted down the bank immediately 
in front of me, where I stood in plain view. He 
stopped in the middle of the track and looked 
towards me unconcernedly for several seconds, 
then swung his head down the tracks in the di- 
rection of a train which was rapidly approaching 
from the south. This was my chance. I brought 
the cross hairs to bear just back of his foreleg and 
pulled. With one mighty bound in the air he fell 
back across the rails without a struggle, and I 
had to do some hustling to pull him out of the 
way before the train was upon us. 

Again I was sitting on a stone, my back against 
a wall in an open pasture lot waiting in hopes a 
fox might use the runway which passed close by. 
I had been waiting quietly since 4 A. M. It was 
now 6 :30, and I had nearly given up hopes of see- 
ing a fox that morning and was getting perhaps 
rather careless about watching, when something 
rustled in the grass, and raising my eyes without 
moving my head, I saw a red fox in the act of 
passing in front of me not more than ten or 
fifteen feet away in the open lot. 

I remained motionless until he was well past, 
then raising my gun slowly and carefully T fired 
at the back of his head as he was trotting leisure- 
ly away, all unconscious of my presence, and per- 
haps only saw twentv-five yards off. The fox 
never kneAv what had killed him, and I often 
wonder if that load of shot surprised him more 



156 FOX TRAPPING. 

than his sudden appearance surprised me, as I 
sat dozing on the rock. I used on this occasion 
a 10 ga. full choke Winchester, level action re- 
peater Model 1901, loaded with 4% eta- black 
powder and 114 oz. B. shot. 

Late one afternoon several years ago while out 
hunting grey squirrel at Swamp Mortar Rock 
with Wm. E. Howes I, Avho was hunting about 
200 yards south of "Bill," heard a fox barking 
just over a rise of ground, and cautiously ap- 
proaching saw two foxes digging at the roots of a 
decayed stump. Just as I was getting within ef- 
fective gun shot range I stepped on a twig which 
snapped with my weight. The sound started the 
animals. Neither saw me, however, as I had re- 
mained perfectly motionless. The moment the 
twig broke one took a course due east, the other 
quartered toward me disappearing in the thick 
laurels. There was a small opening in these 
bushes opposite me, and with cocked gun trained 
on this spot I waited the appearance of the fox. 

In a moment he was in the clearing, and as he 
was stepping over a log about 30 yards away I 
gave him my right barrel and tumbled him over, 
and as he endeavored to get up I put on the fin- 
ishing touches with my left. I was using a Baker 
full choke 28 in. 12 ga. loaded with 3% drs. black 
powder with 1% oz. No. 7 shot. 

While looking for woodchuck signs early one 
spring on my way to pasture, I was following an 



15 8 FOX TRAPPING. 

old logging road when I saw a fox crossing in 
front of me and disappear in the ferns, going 
toward a high ledge west of the road. I stood still 
and waited. When the fox reached the lower part 
of the ledge he stopped about 75 or 80 yards from 
me and sat down. When his head was turned 
away I would sneak cautiously a few feet nearer, 
always standing motionless when he looked my 
way, and thus reduced the distance between us 
to about 50 yards. 

At this point just as I was about to shoot the 
fox, who was partially concealed with leaves and 
ferns, moved some 10 yards up the ledge and was 
getting uneasy, although he had not seen me, and 
the wind was unfavorable for closer approach. I 
waited and he climbed nearly to the top of the 
ledge and laid down on a flat rock in the sun. 
With the utmost caution I slowly crawled back 
to the road and approached his foxship from the 
west, keeping some large rocks between us until 
I had approached within 35 yards. He was sit- 
ting up, breast toward me as I cautiously peeped 
over a rock, but his head was turned away, so I 
stepped out into plain view, leveling my gun as 
I did so. Slowly the fox turned his head and 
faced me, but he appeared to see nothing unusual 
in the silent figure clad in the worn gray hunting 
coat, brown overalls and soft brown hat. 

I could see him twitch his ears and blink his 
eyes lazily in the glare of the setting sun. Fully 



FOX SHOOTING. 159 

a minute I stood admiring the picture. It seemed 
a pity to kill this clever fellow I had so easily 
outwitted. My eye dropped a little lower, the 
brass bead trembled on his breast, and through 
the faint haze of smokeless powder I saw the old 
quail thief kicking and struggling in the edge 
of the ledge. A moment later he toppled over his 
carcass, bounding from rock to rock in its 50 foot 
descent. I was using a 12 ga. full choke 30 in. 
Stevens, smokeless and B shot. 

Another time I was sitting in the woods for 
grey squirrel early in October. It was about 5 :30 
A. M. and just getting light. I heard the tread 
of an animal behind me and the rustle of leaves, 
which ceased a few feet away. By rolling my 
eyes and slightly moving my head I could see the 
outlines of a fox standing behind me, hardly ten 
feet away. Cautiously I attempted to move the 
muzzle of my gun in his direction, but he detected 
me immediately and disappeared midst the laur- 
els like a flash. 

Although he had stood two or three minutes 
within a few feet of me before I attempted to turn 
evidently trying to figure out what I was, not 
until I had made a movement did he realize he 
was so near his old enemy, "man," which goes to 
show tli at Mr. Fox, with every other sense alert, 
is like many other of his wild brethren, unable to 
tell man from an inanimate by mere sight alone, 
when he remains motionless. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

A SHREWD FOX 

Several years ago, when foxes were more num- 
erous here than they are now, the writer, R. B., of 
Canada, in company with two other hunters, 
went on a fox hunting expedition. We had two 
dogs which had not been trained but would fol- 
low a trail pretty well. We had to travel over 
newly-made ice a distance of three miles to a 
small island about a mile long and quite narrow, 
on which were three small groves of fir trees 
which was the only cover for game, the surface 
of the island being chiefly meadow and marsh 
land. We landed on the eastern end of the is- 
land, and within a short time after the hunt be- 
gan one of the party shot a fox, and in the after- 
noon the writer got a chance at a shot and suc- 
ceeded in knocking over a very fine red fox. As 
night was now near we started for home, intend- 
ing to return next day and renew the hunt, as 
we knew there was yet another fox on the island. 
Next day, however, was stormy, and Ave post- 
poned the hunt till the following day, which be- 
ing fine gave us a good chance for our work. 

The same party of hunters and dogs renewed 

160 



A SHREWD FOX. 



161 



the chase early in the morning but the fox seemed 
to have learned a lesson from the previous hunt, 
and all day long he was chased from grove to 
grove by the dogs without giving a chance of a 
shot at him. As night Avas fast approaching we 
began to fear our hunt Avas going to be unsuc- 
cessful Avhen Ave discoAered that the fox had 
changed his tactics, and instead of taking shelter 
in the groves had run clear out to one end of the 




ALWAYS HUNGRY. 



island, which was Aery narrow, and as Ave thought 
would take to the ice and thus get away from us. 
However, Ave followed after him, and you may 
imagine oar surprise when the fox, instead of 
going on the ice, suddenly turned around and 
came directly toward us, and when about one 
hundred yards distant suddenly disappeared as 
if the earth had swallowed him up; one of the 
party avIio knew there was an old uncovered Avell 
there shouted out, "the fox is in the well !" We 



162 FOX TRAPPING. 

all hastened to the spot, and sure enough there 
was Mr. Fox in the well clinging to some sticks 
floating in the water about eight feet below the 
surface of the ground. As we had no rope or any 
facilities for getting reynard out of the well alive, 
we had to take a mean and unsportsmanlike ad- 
vantage of our prisoner by putting a small charge 
of shot into his head and then fishing him out of 
the water with a forked stick. That the fox could 
never have gotten out of the well by his own exer- 
tions I do not believe, but that he went into it to 
escape from us is certain. 



CHAPTER XX. 

STILL-HUNTING THE FOX. 

Many have requested me to give my method of 
still-hunting the red fox. As my hair is turning 
gray and the red foxes are about all gone here I 
will give an outline of my method, and will try 
and not weary the reader with a long account, 
thus writes G. O. Green, of Illinois. 

Winter is the best time for hunting the red fox, 
and I have been more successful in January and 
February than other months. There are always 
some localities where the red fox spends the day, 
curled up asleep, and it is generally in a hilly 
locality as far as he can get from the presence 
of man. 

The still hunter has only to go to these places 
on fair days and hunt as far as possible against 
the wind. If the wind is blowing some so much 
the better — it will help to deaden the sound of 
the hunter's tread. When you get into likely 
ground walk slow, and be sure you observe every 
object on the ground, both in front and in fact 
at least three sides. The average still hunter 
hunts too fast and don't use his eyes in the right 

163 




BLACK POX SKIN VALUED AT $1500 



STILL HUNTING THE FOX. 165 

direction — if he is a bird hunter he will be look- 
ing up in the trees too much. 

A red fox is a small animal, and the hunter 
must keep his eyes always on the ground while 
hunting the old Red. If snow is on the ground 
and the hunter jumps a fox without getting a 
shot, the hunter, if he is a novice, will be pretty 
sure to go on the run after the fox when he comes 
to the place where the fox has just jumped. When 
yon find the fox has been jumped sit right down 
and eat your lunch, and wait twenty minutes or 
a half hour. The fox will run perhaps 80 rods 
then get on a log or stump and Match his back 
track, and if he does not see am one following 
him he will not go far before he will look for an- 
other place to lie down. 

When you come to a place where the fox makes 
zigzag trail, stop and look very close in every di- 
restion for at least one hundred yards. The fox 
rarely makes a straight trail when he is going to 
lie down ; in this he resembles the deer. The fox 
sleeps most soundly between 11 o'clock and 2 
o'clock in the daytime 1 , and I have killed most of 
mine during that time. A fox jumped after 3 
o'clock in the afternoon will hardly lie down 
again that day. A double-barrel shotgun loaded 
with No. 4 shot will stop any fox up to about 50 
yards; above that distance coarser shot usually 
straddle the fox. When the dav is cold and snow 



166 FOX TRAPPING. 

is crusty, stay at home, for you will get no fox 
but plenty of exercise. 

When a fox goes into the ground while you 
are trailing him, don't try to dig him out; it is 
hard work. On three occasions I have got his 
brush by going to the burrow about sundown and 
getting a good position near the burrow to wait 
for him to come out. I have never been disap- 
pointed in getting a shot about the time that you 
can see half a dozen stars twinkling. But it takes 
good eyes to see a fox in twilight. 

Now reader, these are not all the points of 
still hunting. It takes a peculiar cuss for a still 
hunter, and still hunters are born that way; all 
the education in the world will not make a still 
hunter. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

FOX RANCHES. 

It is estimated that at present nearly 50 of the 
Aleutian Islands have fox ranches, most of which 
are said to have been successfully managed. Thus 
far the Government has rented the islands for 
this purpose at f 100 per year. Some years ago 
the revenue cutter Perry was sent to the Archi- 
pelago by the Treasury Department for the ex- 
press purpose of ascertaining the location of the 
islands used for fox ranches. The Government's 
agents were not long in finding out that in several 
instances the fox raisers had appropriated is- 
lands for which they were paying no rental. 
These persons were brought up with a sharp turn 
and ordered to pay up or shut up shop. 

It seems quite clear that where proper business 
methods have been followed the ranches, without 
exception, have succeeded thus far, and will 
prove immensely valuable in the future. On some 
of the islands the work has been going on for 12 
or 15 years, and three of them now have a fox 
population of more than 1.000 each. The first 
method was to begin operations by turning loose 
on an island several pairs of foxes. In some in- 

167 



FOX RANCHES. 169 

stances the animals have increased rapidly, with 
the result that in a year or so it had become 
apparent that $150 or $200 paid for a pair of 
mated animals was likely to prove a good invest- 
ment. 

The original project was to breed the silver 
gray fox, as the fnr of this animal is much more 
valuable than that of the commoner varieties. 
A good silver gray pelt is worth about $50 to the 
original seller, while $15 or thereabout is the 
price for the pelt of the blue fox. But the silver 
gray lias many peculiarities which make its do- 
mestication exceedingly difficult, practically im- 
possible, in fact. It is much given to devouring 
its young, and it has many of the characteristics 
of the wolf. At present only one of the islands 
is given up to the silver grays, and the animals 
do not increase rapidly. 

The blue fox, so called, is handled much more 
successfully. It is readily tamed, and if kindly 
treated soon becomes so domestic that it will take 
food from the keeper's hand. The food usually 
is fish, either cooked or raw, and a mixture of 
corn meal and tallow. Reynard gets these ra- 
tions, and all he wants of them, for ten months 
in the year, the food being supplied steadily 
except during the two midsummer months. It is 
estimated that the average cost of the rations is 
$1.50 per fox per year. There are two or three 



170 FOX TRAPPING. 

keepers for each ranch who devote all their time 
the year around to their charges. 

From November 20 to January 20 is the open 
season for foxes on the islands, and box traps, 
rather than dead falls or steel traps, are used. 
This is done because all the female animals are 
released, after having been marked, and also one 
male for every six of the opposite sex. The aver- 
age age for killing is about 18 months, although 
the pelt of an animal eight months old is fully 
developed, and, despite some theories to the con- 
trary, the fur does not necessarily improve with 
age. On some of the larger farms, the box trap 
method of catching the foxes has been given up, 
as being too slow, for baiting the animals near a 
small corral. 

During the months preceding the killing time, 
the food for the foxes is placed near the site of 
this corral, in order to accustom the animals to 
coming to that locality, and also in order to tame 
them. Under this treatment the foxes lose their 
shyness and shrewdness to such an extent that 
they not only enter the corral freely, but the 
female or male which has once been released after 
having been examined and marked, frequently 
enters the corral again. It is reported that in 
some instances the same animal has been caught 
three or four times in the same night. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

STEEL TRAPS. 

In sections the larger game is gone yet there 
is in parts of the North, West and South much 
good trapping territory that will pay the hardy 
trappers for years to come. Even in the more 
thickly settled districts trapping can be made a 
good paying business. It seems that red fox, 
skunk and muskrat remain about as numerous 
in most sections as ever. In fact, the red fox in 
certain sections has only made its appearance of 
late years — since the country has become more 
thickly settled. Trappers in most sections can 
rest assured that they will have game to trap for 
years to come. 

In the rapid development of the country the 
steel trap has played a wonderful part. They 
have subdued the monster bear and nave as well 
caught millions of the small fur bearing animals, 
adding largely to the annual income of the hardy 
t rapper. Steel traps have been in use for more 
than fifty years, but for many years after they 
were invented they were so expensive that they 
were not generally used. Of late years they have 
become cheaper and their use has become general. 

171 



17 2 POX TRAPPING. 

Iii fact, the price is now so reasonable that the 
trapper, on his first expedition, has a supply. 
The professional trapper, who in the North, 
spends from seven to nine months in the woods 
has a supply of these traps, ranging from the 
smallest to the largest. His needs are such too 
that all of them are in use during the trapping- 
season. A trapper can use from 50 to 250 traps. 

Traps are made in various sizes. The smallest 
No. is used for gophers, rats, etc., while the 
largest, No. 6, is for the grizzly bear and will 
hold him. The No. 2 is known as the fox trap 
having two springs and spread of jaws of 4% 
inches. The No. 1% single spring is also much 
used by fox trappers. The No. 1 will also hold 
the fox, but we think best to use the No. 1% or 
No. 2. 

We are alluding to the Newhouse manufac- 
tured by the Oneida Community, Ltd., Oneida, 
N. Y., as it is acknowledged to be the best trap in 
the world. 

As most fox trappers devote more or less time 
to trapping other fur bearing animals, a descrip- 
tion of the various Newhouse traps, telling the 
animal or animals each size is adapted to, etc., 
will no doubt be of Interest. 



STEEL TRAPS. 



173 




Spread of Jaws, 3% inches. This, the smallest 
trap made, is used mostly for catching the gopher, 
a little animal which is very troublesome to west- 
ern farmers, and also rats and other vermin. It 
has a sharp grip and will hold larger game, but 
should not be overtaxed. 




Spread of Jaws, 4 inches. This Trap is used 
for catching muskrats and other small animals, 
and sold in greater numbers than any other size. 
Its use is well understood by professional trap- 
pers and it is the most serviceable size for catch- 
ing skunks, weasels, rats and such other animals 
as visit poultry houses and barns. 



174 



FOX TRAPPING. 




Cross section 
of Jaws 



Spread of Jaws, 4 inches. Occasionally ani- 
mals free themselves from traps by gnawing their 
legs off just below the trap jaws, where the flesh 
is numb from pressure. Various forms of traps 
have been experimented with to obviate this diffi- 
culty. The Webbed Jaws shown above have 
proved very successful in this respect. 

Noting the cross-section of the jaws, as illus- 
trated at the left, it is plain the animal can only 
gnaw off its leg at a point quite a distance below 
the meeting edges. The flesh above the point of 
amputation and below the jaws will swell and 
make it impossible to pull the leg stump out of 
the trap. 



STEEL TRAPS. 



175 



The No. 81 Trap corresponds in size with the 
regular No. 1 Newhouse. 

Spread of Jaws — 91, 5 x /4 inches; 91%, 6% 
inches. The double jaws take an easy and firm 




grip so high up on the muskrat that he can not 
twist out. A skunk cannot gnaw out either. 

These traps are especially good for Muskrat, 
Mink, Skunk and Eaccoon. 

All parts of the No. 91 except the jaws are 
the same size as the regular No. 1 Newhouse, 
while the 91% corresponds to the regular No. 

iy 2 . 



176 



FOX TRAPPING. 




Spread of Jaws, 4% inches. This size is called 
the Mink Trap. It is, however, suitable for catch- 
ing the Woodchuck, Skunk, etc. Professional 
trappers often use it for catching Foxes. It is 
very convenient in form and is strong and re- 
liable. 




Spread of Jaws 



Trap 



is called the Fox Trap. Its spread of jaws is the 
same as the No. 1% but having two springs it is, 
of course, much stronger. 



STEEL TRAPS. 



177 




Spread of Jaws, 5% inches. This, the Otter 
Trap, is very powerful. It Avill hold almost any 
<>aine smaller than a bear. 




Spread of Jaws, 6% inches. This is the regu- 
lar form of Beaver Trap. It is longer than the 
Xo. 3 Trap, and has one inch greater spread of 
jaws. It is a favorite with those avIio trap and 
limit for a living in the Northwest and Canada. 
It is also extensively used for trapping the 
smaller Wolves and Coyotes in the western stock 
raising regions. 



178 



FOX TRAPPING. 




Spread of Jaws, 6% inches. In some localities 
the Otter grows to an unusual size, with great 
proportionate strength, so that the manufactur- 
ers have been led to produce an especially large 
and strong pattern. All the parts are heavier 
than the No. 2 1 / 1 >, the spread of jaws greater and 
the spring stilfer. 




Spread of Jaws, 5 inches. The above cut re- 
presents a Single Spring Otter Trap. It is used 
more especially for catching Otter on their 
"slides." For this purpose a thin, raised plate 
of steel is adjusted to the pan so that when the 



STEEL TRAPS. 



179 



trap is set the plate will be a trifle higher than 
the teeth on the jaws. The spring is very power- 
ful, being the same as used on the No. 1 New- 
house Trap. The raised plate can be readily de- 
tached if desired, making the trap one of general 
utility. 




Single Spring. Same as No. 2% but without 
Teeth or Raised Plate. 

No. 31% NEWHOUSE TRAP. 

Single Spring. Same as No. 3% but without 
Teeth or Raised Plate. 

Spread of Jaws — No. 21%, 5% inches; No. 
31%, 6% inches. These Traps are the largest 
smooth jaw, single spring sizes that are made 
Professional trappers will find these especially 
valuable when on a long trapping line, as they 
are more compact and easier to secrete than the 



180 



FOX TRAPPING. 



large double spring traps. The springs are made 
extra heavy. 

Note. — The 21% is practically a single spring- 
No. 3 and the 31 y 2 a single spring No. 4. 




Spread of Jaws, 6% inches. This Trap is the 
same in size as the No. 4 Beaver, but has heavier 
and stiff er springs and offset jaws, which allow 
the springs to raise higher when the animal's leg 
is in the trap, and is furnished with teeth suffi- 
ciently close to prevent the animal from pulling 
its foot out. 




Clutch Detachable — Trap can be used with or 
without it. 



STEEL TRAPS. 



181 



PATENTED. 

Spread of Jaws, No. 23, 5% inches; No. 24, 
6 J /i inches. The inventor of this attachment 
claims to have had wonderful success with it in 
taking Beaver. The trap should be set with the 
clutch end farthest from shore. The beaver 
swims with his fore legs folded back against his 
body, and when he feels his breast touch the 
bank he puts them down. The position of the 
trap can be so calculated that he will put his fore 
legs in the trap, when the clutch will seize him 
across the body and hold him securely. 




In response to a demand for a new model of 
the Newhouse Trap especially adapted to catch- 
ing wolves, the manufacturers have perfected a 
trap which is numbered 4%> and is called the 
Newhouse Wolf Trap." 



«AT 



182 



FOX TRAPPING. 



This trap has eight inches spread of jaw, with 
other parts in proportion, and is provided with a 
pronged "drag," a heavy snap and an extra heavy 
steel swivel and chain, five feet long, warranted 
to hold 2,000 pounds. The trap complete with 
chain and "drag" weighs about nine pounds. 




Spread of Jaws, 9 inches. This trap is in- 
tended for catching small sized Bears. In design 
it is exactly like the standard No. 5 Bear Trap, 
only that the parts are all somewhat smaller. 
Weight, 11% pounds each. 




Spread of Jaws, 9 inches. This trap is identi- 
cal with No. 5 excepting that the jaws are offset, 
making a space five-eighths- inch between them. 
This allows the springs to come up higher when 
the bear's foot is in the trap, and thus secure a 
better grip. Also there is less chance of breaking 
the bones of the foot. Weight, 11% pounds each. 



STEEL TRAPS. 



183 




Spread of Jaws, 11% inches. This trap weighs 
nineteen pounds. It is used for taking the com- 
mon Black Bear and is furnished with a very 



strong chain. 




Spread of Jaws, 11% inches. To meet the 
views of certain hunters whose judgment is re- 
spected, the manufacturers designed a style of 
jaw for the No. 5 trap, making an offset of % of 
an inch, so as to allow the springs to come up 
higher when the bear's leg is in the trap. This 
gives the spring a better grip. Those wishing 
this style should specify "No. 15." 



184 



FOX TRAPPING. 




Spread of Jaws, 16 inches. Weight, complete, 
42 pounds. This is the strongest trap made. 
We have never heard of anything getting out of 
it when once caught. It is used to catch lions 
and tigers, as well as the great Grizzly Bears of 
the Rocky Mountains. 




This cut illustrates Bear Chain Clevis and 
Bolt, intended as a substitute for the ring on the 
end of the trap chain, when desired. 

With this clevis a loop can be made around 
any small log or tree without the trouble of cut- 



STEEL TRAPS. 185 

ting to fit the ring. The chain is made five feet 
long, suitable for any clog, and the prices of bear 
traps fitted with it are the same as with the 
regular short chain and ring. 



Every trapper knows how difficult it is to set 
a large trap alone in the woods, especially in cold 
weather, when the fingers are stiff, and the diffi- 
culty is greatly increased when one has to work 
in a boat. One of these clamps applied to each 
spring will, by a few turns of the thumb-screws, 
bend the springs to their places, so that the pan 
may be adjusted without difficulty. No. 4 Clamp 
can be used on any trap smaller than No. 4 1 /2- 
No. 5 and 6 are strong clamps, carefully made 
and especially adapted to setting the large traps 
Nos. 4% to 6. They dispense with the inconven- 
ient and dangerous use of levers. With them 
one can easily set these powerful traps. These 
clamps are also useful about camp for other 
purposes. 



BRIEF LIST OF BOOKS. 

PUBLISHED BY 

A. R. HARDING PUBLISHING CO. 

Columbus, Ohio 



Sent postpaid on receipt of price. Descriptive cir- 
culars mailed free to any address. 



FOX TRAPPING. This book contains nearly 200 
pages and about 50 illustrations. Printed on 
good quality paper with clear illustrations. Size 
of pages 5x7 inches. Cloth Bound, Price 60 
cents. 

MINK TRAPPING. Different methods are used in 
taking this valuable fur-bearer. This book ex- 
plains all of them. Contains about 200 pages 
and nearly 50 illustrations. Printed on good 
paper with fine illustrations. Size of pages 5x7 
inches. Cloth Bound, Price 60 cents. 

DEADFALLS. A small book of instructions with 
illustrations of pole and stone deadfalls; also 
shows how to make two piece and figure 4 triggers. 
Paper cover, 25 cents. 

STEEL TRAPS. A small book, telling where and 
how to set, illustrated. This book is of value 
especially to the beginner. Paper cover, 25 cents. 

HUNTER-TRADER-TRAPPER. Published monthly 
and contains 128 or more pages. As its name 
indicates is a magazine of information for hunters, 
traders, trappers, etc., containing up-to-date meth- 
ods and information. Single copy, 10 cents, 
yearly subscription $1.00. 



OCT 17 190F 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 







002 903 998 7 



